Study finds tea improves resilience in older adults with chronic diseases

A recent cohort study published in Frontiers in Psychiatry reveals that daily tea consumption is linked to improved psychological resilience among older adults facing chronic diseases. Conducted with 26,454 participants aged 60 and above from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Study, the research assessed tea drinking habits and psychological resilience at the beginning of the study and again after three years.

The average age of participants was 85.6 years, with a majority being female (55.7%). Researchers identified ten distinct groups based on multimorbidity, which refers to the presence of multiple chronic health conditions. Results showed that those who drank tea daily had a 17.6% higher chance of experiencing improvements in psychological resilience compared to non-drinkers.

The study highlighted that women and younger participants (under 85 years) were particularly likely to benefit from tea consumption. Specifically, female participants had a 36.2% increased likelihood of improved resilience, while those aged under 85 had a 24.3% higher chance.

Interestingly, the positive effects of tea consumption were most pronounced among individuals with multiple chronic conditions, particularly those with cardiometabolic issues. In this subgroup, daily tea drinkers exhibited a staggering 290.2% increase in their resilience scores.

The findings suggest that incorporating tea into the daily routine of older adults could be a practical strategy to foster better mental health and resilience, especially for those already managing chronic illnesses. This research supports the idea that simple lifestyle changes, such as drinking tea regularly, can have a meaningful impact on psychological well-being in later life.

The study’s results remained consistent across various sensitivity analyses, reinforcing the reliability of the findings. As mental health remains a critical aspect of aging, promoting tea drinking among older adults may contribute to healthier aging and improved quality of life.

Overall, this study presents compelling evidence for the benefits of tea consumption in enhancing psychological resilience among older adults with chronic diseases.