Green tea helps protect brain from Alzheimer

Scientists discovered natural compounds in green tea protect the brain from Alzheimer's.
 

In a new study from the University of California, researchers found that two natural substances, nicotinamide, which a form of vitamin B3, and epigallocatechin gallate, which is an antioxidant found in green tea, can help older brain cells work more like younger ones. 
 

These compounds were shown to restore levels of GTP, a key energy molecule that powers cells and supports their ability to clean up damage. In lab tests on brain cells from aging mice with Alzheimer's traits, the treatment reversed signs of decline and helped clear out clumps of amyloid beta, the protein strongly linked to the disease. Normally, as people age, their brain cells lose energy, which makes it harder for them to remove waste and damaged parts. 
 

But when the researchers treated the cells with the two compounds for just 24 hours, energy levels bounced back, and the brain's "clean-up crew," a process called autophagy, got back to work. The treatment also reduced oxidative stress, another factor in brain degeneration. One of the study's key discoveries is that GTP, which had been overlooked in past Alzheimer's research, may play a central role in keeping brain cells healthy. The study suggests that boosting GTP using these natural compounds could help prevent or slow down Alzheimer's by supporting energy production and cellular repair. While both substances are already available as dietary supplements, the researchers warn that more research is needed to figure out how to use them effectively.