Green tea compound Alzheimer hope

Source: BBC
Tuesday, 20 September 2005, 23:10 GMT 00:10 UK

Green tea compound Alzheimer hope

An ingredient of green tea may help to protect the brain against the
ravages of Alzheimer's disease, research in the US suggests.
University of South Florida scientists found the component prevented
Alzheimer's-like damage in the brains of mice bred to develop
symptoms.

The component - EGCG - is already strongly suspected of offering
protection against certain cancers.

The study is published in the Journal of Neuroscience.

It provides evidence that EGCG decreases production of the beta-
amyloid protein thought to play a key role in the development of
Alzheimer's symptoms.

It is this protein that forms the characteristic plaques found in the
brain of Alzheimer's patients which are thought to lead to nerve
damage and memory loss.

After treating Alzheimer's mice for several months with daily
injections of pure EGCG, the researchers observed a dramatic
decrease - as much as 54% - of brain-clogging Alzheimer's plaques.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4261558.stm