Green tea shown to help cope with Down syndrome
A chemical compound present in green tea has been shown to improve the cognitive ability in people with Down syndrome. As reported in The Lancet Neurology, the clinical trial looked into the effects of green tea catechin epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on memory and behavior and found that the treatment led to improvements in remembering patterns, verbal recall and adaptive behavior. The compound was shown to alter the way neurons in the brain connect with one another and the effect was noticeable even 6 months after the treatment ended. While the chemical does not represent a cure for the condition, scientists say EGCG may be a tool to improve the quality of life of those affected. Approximately one in 1,000 people live with Down syndrome according to the World Health Organization.