A combination of catechins and vitamins in green tea may help remove harmful brain proteins and prevent Alzheimer's disease



A combination of

catechins , a natural compound found in green tea, and B vitamins may boost brain cell energy levels and prevent the buildup of brain waste associated with Alzheimer's disease, according to a study by researchers at the University of California, Irvine.

Treatment of age-related decreases in GTP levels restores endocytosis and autophagy | GeroScience
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11357-025-01786-4



UC Irvine researchers find combination of natural compounds for brain cleaning – UC Irvine News
https://news.uci.edu/2025/08/06/uc-irvine-researchers-find-combination-of-natural-compounds-for-brain-cleaning/

Green Tea And a Vitamin Supplement Could Protect Against Alzheimer's : ScienceAlert
https://www.sciencealert.com/green-tea-and-a-vitamin-supplement-could-protect-against-alzheimers

The researchers used lab-grown mouse brain cells to examine the effects of combining epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) , an antioxidant found in green tea, with nicotinamide , a form of vitamin B3. Nicotinamide is a compound naturally produced in the body when you eat foods rich in niacin , such as grains, fish, nuts, legumes, and eggs.



First, the researchers used a genetically engineered fluorescent sensor to track levels of live

guanosine triphosphate (GTP) in neurons isolated from mice. GTP is a high-energy molecule found in brain cells, providing the energy they need to clear dead cells and proteins. Recent research suggests that a lack of GTP may be linked to the development of Alzheimer's disease.

The results of the experiment showed that free GTP levels decline with age, particularly in mitochondria, which are important for cellular energy production, leading to impaired autophagy , which removes waste products.

The research team then treated aged neurons with EGCG and nicotinamide for 24 hours to examine how GTP levels changed. They found that the combination of EGCG and nicotinamide restored GTP levels to the same level as in young cells, resulting in improved energy metabolism, reduced oxidative stress, and efficient removal of amyloid beta aggregates.

'As we age, the energy levels of brain neurons decline, reducing their ability to remove unwanted proteins and damaged components,' said Gregory Brewer , co-author of the paper and professor of biomedical engineering at the University of California, Irvine. 'We found that restoring energy levels helps neurons resume this important cleansing function.'

The photo below shows amyloid beta protein in red, with the left side untreated and the right side treated with EGCG and nicotinamide. It can be seen that amyloid beta protein is removed by treatment with EGCG and nicotinamide.



'This study highlights GTP as a previously underappreciated energy source that drives important brain functions,' said Brewer. 'Supplementing the brain's energy systems with compounds already available as dietary supplements may offer new avenues for treating age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease.'

It should be noted that this study was based on experiments using mouse cells, and it will take some time before the combination of EGCG and nicotinamide can be used as a therapeutic agent. Brewer pointed out, 'Further research is needed to determine the best way to apply this treatment, because a bacterial clinical trial involving researchers from the University of California, Irvine, showed that oral nicotinamide was not very effective because it was inactivated in the bloodstream.'

in Science,   Food,   Free Member, Posted by log1h_ik