Encouraging older adults to relax with a cup of tea or coffee after their workout could help protect them against mental decline according to two recent, independent US studies.

The first study by the Harvard Medical School showed that elderly people who engaged in moderate to heavy levels of exercise had a 40 per cent lower risk of developing dementia.

The second, from the University of California found that over 65s who drank tea regularly were between 17 and 37 per cent less likely to suffer a reduction in mental ability. Drinking coffee regularly lowered the chances of mental decline by 20 per cent.