S-P Chan1, P Z Yong, Y Sun, R Mahendran, J C M Wong, C Qiu, T-P Ng, E-H Kua, L Feng. 1. Dr Lei Feng, Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Health System Tower Block Level 9, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Republic of Singapore, Email: pcmfl@nus.edu.sg.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between long-term tea consumption and depressive and anxiety symptoms in community-living elderly. DESIGN: Community based cross-sectional study. SETTING: The Diet and Healthy Aging Study (DaHA), a prospective cohort study in Singapore. PARTICIPANTS: 614 elderly aged 60 years and above, who were free of dementia and cognitive impairment. MEASUREMENTS: Information on tea consumption was obtained through interviewer-administered questionnaire. Long-term tea drinking was defined as regular consumption for at least 15 years. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were measured using the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) and the 20-item Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI), respectively. A generalized structural equation model (gSEM) was applied to ascertain the association between long-term tea consumption and depressive and anxiety symptoms. RESULTS: About 59% of the subjects had consumed tea for over 15 years. Long term tea consumption was significantly associated with a reduced odds of having depressive and anxiety symptoms, after adjusting for demographics (i.e., age, gender, education and ethnicity), comorbid conditions (i.e., heart disease, diabetes, stroke, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia) and long-term coffee consumption. CONCLUSION: There was evidence suggesting that long-term tea consumption was associated with reduced depressive and anxiety symptoms among community-living elderly. This suggests that it is worthwhile to further investigate the role of tea's bioactive compounds in promoting mental health in aging.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between long-term tea consumption and depressive and anxiety symptoms in community-living elderly. DESIGN: Community based cross-sectional study. SETTING: The Diet and Healthy Aging Study (DaHA), a prospective cohort study in Singapore. PARTICIPANTS: 614 elderly aged 60 years and above, who were free of dementia and cognitive impairment. MEASUREMENTS: Information on tea consumption was obtained through interviewer-administered questionnaire. Long-term tea drinking was defined as regular consumption for at least 15 years. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were measured using the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) and the 20-item Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI), respectively. A generalized structural equation model (gSEM) was applied to ascertain the association between long-term tea consumption and depressive and anxiety symptoms. RESULTS: About 59% of the subjects had consumed tea for over 15 years. Long term tea consumption was significantly associated with a reduced odds of having depressive and anxiety symptoms, after adjusting for demographics (i.e., age, gender, education and ethnicity), comorbid conditions (i.e., heart disease, diabetes, stroke, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia) and long-term coffee consumption. CONCLUSION: There was evidence suggesting that long-term tea consumption was associated with reduced depressive and anxiety symptoms among community-living elderly. This suggests that it is worthwhile to further investigate the role of tea's bioactive compounds in promoting mental health in aging.
Entities:
Keywords:
Tea; aging; anxiety; depression; generalized structural equation model