• A green tea extract, called ECGC, slowed the progress of the condition
  • Mice allowed to exercise after being given ECGC showed ‘remarkable’ improvement in brain function and memory retention
  • Findings could pave the way for new treatments for the disease  

A cup of green tea followed by a jog could stave off or slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, a study claims.

Researchers discovered a green tea extract, called ECGC, slowed the progress of the condition when combined with physical activity. Mice allowed to exercise after being given ECGC showed ‘remarkable’ improvement in cognitive function and memory retention. And the University of Missouri researchers now believe further study of a particular compound in the drink could lead to new treatments for the illness. Grace Sun, professor of biochemistry at the University of Missouri, said: ‘Oral administration of the extract, as well as voluntary exercise, improved some of the behavioural manifestations and cognitive impairments of Alzheimer’s.’ Plaques and tangles in the brain are two of the main features of Alzheimer’s disease. The third is the loss of connections between nerve cells (neurons) in the brain.

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Mice given the green tea extract saw an improvement in their cognitive function, the researchers found

Todd Schachtman, professor of psychological sciences, added: ‘In Alzheimer’s patients, amyloid-beta peptide

[A-beta] can accumulate … causing amyloid plaques in the brain. ‘Symptoms can include increased memory loss and confusion, agitation and a lack of concern for your environment and surroundings. ‘We looked at ways of preventing or postponing the onset of the disease which we hope can eventually lead to an improvement of health status and quality of life for the elderly.’

Increased inflammation has been linked to Alzheimer’s and recent studies have suggested the benefits of dietary antioxidants in reducing the risk. So researchers decided to investigate the effects of voluntary exercise and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a green tea extract, on memory function in mice. They also examined the effects on A-beta levels. The mice, exhibiting symptoms of the disease, underwent a series of tests in which they had to move round a specially constructed maze and later build a nest. Professor Schachtman said: ‘Mice exhibiting symptoms of the disease had nests that were poorly formed or erratic. ‘Furthermore, we found that mice with Alzheimer’s symptoms, much like people, can be apathetic about their habitat, or have forgotten how to ‘nest’ appropriately.’

The mice were then given ECGC in water and given access to running wheels. Their cognitive function was found to have improved. The mice brains were then analysed to determine the effects of EGCG and exercise on A-beta levels in affected regions of the brain. Professor Sun said: ‘We were excited to see a decrease in A-beta levels in the brains of the affected mice as well as improvements in behavior deficits in mice with Alzheimer’s. ‘Consumption of natural products as potential remedies to prevent and treat diseases and to maintain human health is an ancient one. ‘Further study of the commonly found extract could lead to advancements in the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease in humans.’

The research was published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Source: Daily Mail