Boosting older adults’ cognitive functioning and psychological Well-Being through Chinese tea therapy: A preliminary study

Objective: To investigate the effect of Chinese tea therapy on the enhancement of cognitive functioning and psychological well-being among older adults in Hong Kong. Method: Seventeen healthy older adults recruited from two senior centers participated in a four-week Chinese tea therapy intervention. Pre–post measures on cognitive functioning and emotional well-being were used to examine the effect of the intervention on cognitive and emotional variables. Results: Results of the paired samples t-test revealed significant differences between the pre-test and post-test results for cognition and well-being. Specifically, the older adults showed enhanced cognitive functioning and improved emotional well-being after they received the Chinese tea therapy. Conclusion: Chinese tea therapy is apparently an effective strategy to ensure healthy aging. In particular, this innovative and culturally relevant strategy may exert a protective effect against cognitive aging and decline and may boost emotional wellness of older adults in Asian cultures.