DRINKING regular cups of tea could help improve memory, research reveals.

North-East scientists have discovered that green and black tea prevents the development of Alzheimer's.

Laboratory tests found that drinking regular cuppas inhibits the activity of certain enzymes in the brain.

The findings, published in the academic journal Phytotherapy Research, may lead to the development of a new treatment for Alzheimer's - a form of dementia that affects an estimated ten million people worldwide.

Researchers at Newcastle University's Medicinal Plant Research Centre investigated the properties of coffee and green and black tea in a series of experiments.

Black tea - the traditional English tea - is derived from the same plant as green tea but has been fermented.

They found that green and black tea inhibited the activity of enzymes associated with the development of Alzhei-mer's. Coffee had no significant effect.

Both teas inhibited the activity of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, which breaks down the chemical messenger, or neurotransmitter, acetylcholine. Alzheimer's is characterised by a drop in acetylcholine.

Green tea and black tea also hinder the activity of the enzyme butyrylcholinesterase, which has been discovered in protein deposits found in the brain of patients with Alzheimer's.

Green tea went one step further in that it obstructed the activity of beta-secretase, which plays a role in the production of protein deposits in the brain associated with Alzheimer's.

Scientists also found that it continued to have its inhibitive effect for a week, whereas black tea's properties lasted for only one day.

Lead researcher Dr Ed Okello said: "Although there is no cure for Alzheimer's, tea could potentially be another weapon in the armoury which is used to treat this disease and slow down its development.

"It would be wonderful if our work could help improve the quality of life for millions of sufferers and their carers."