Green tea may help prevent Alzheimer’s, according to the latest research from McMaster University in Canada.
Green tea has been used for millenniums in Asia as a potent tonic for its health benefits.
It is made from leaves that are unfermented, which gives it higher polyphenol antioxidant content than most teas.
“Tea began as a medicine and grew into a beverage.” ~ Kakuzo Okakura, Book of Tea
Tea’s rich history as a medicine has made way for a new wave of green tea’s popularity as a beverage.
The new study shows that a compound in green tea called EGCG stops the formation of beta-amyloid plaques, which are considered a major risk factor for Alzheimer’s.
The Mayo Clinic explains the details of Alzheimer’s disease:
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia — a group of brain disorders that cause the loss of intellectual and social skills. In Alzheimer’s disease, the brain cells degenerate and die, causing a steady decline in memory and mental function.
The researchers found through magnetic resonance imaging that EGCG stops the body from creating beta-amyloid plaques.
“At the molecular level,” explains Melacini, “we believe EGCG coats toxic oligomers and changes their ability to grow and interact with healthy cells.”
The researchers believe that these findings could change the way Alzheimer’s is treated and prevented.
“We all know that currently there is no cure for Alzheimer’s once symptoms emerge, so our best hope is early intervention. That could mean using green tea extracts or their derivatives early on, say 15 to 25 years before any symptoms ever set in.”
The study showing that green tea may help prevent Alzheimer’s was published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
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REFERENCES:
1. “How a Green Tea Compound Could Prevent Alzheimer’s.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 13 Oct. 2017, http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319748.php.
2. “Molecular Mechanism for the (−)-Epigallocatechin Gallate-Induced Toxic to Nontoxic Remodeling of Aβ Oligomers.” ACS Publications, Journal Of The American Chemical Society, 25 Aug. 2017, pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jacs.7b05012.
