Having acquired critical - and medical - acclaim for its booming array of health benefits, green tea is often hailed as the herbal beverage to beat.
Now, researchers at the University of California, Irvine, have revealed how two naturally occurring substances in the drink may rejuvenate deteriorating brain cells and eliminate protein accumulation associated with Alzheimer's disease.
The team discovered that nicotinamide, a variant of vitamin B3, and epigallocatechin gallate, an antioxidant present in green tea, can revitalise neurons by replenishing a crucial energy-producing molecule called guanosine triphosphate (GTP).
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Green tea is often hailed for its numerous health benefits
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Published in the journal GeroScience, the research outlined how the compounds reversed cellular deterioration linked to ageing while boosting neurons' capacity to eliminate amyloid protein deposits, which are characteristic of Alzheimer's disease.
Subsequent testing revealed that treating elderly neurons for merely 24 hours with these natural substances restored GTP concentrations to levels found in youthful cells.
This restoration kick-started multiple beneficial effects: enhanced cellular energy production, stimulation of essential proteins responsible for cellular transport, and more effective removal of amyloid beta accumulations.
"As people age, their brains show a decline in neuronal energy levels, which limits the ability to remove unwanted proteins and damaged components," lead author Gregory Brewer explained.
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"We found that restoring energy levels helps neurons regain this critical cleanup function."
The treatment additionally diminished oxidative stress, which contributes to neurological deterioration.
Further observations revealed that these energy-rich molecules decreased as cells aged, with particularly severe depletion occurring in mitochondria, the cellular powerhouses.
This energy deficit compromised autophagy, the mechanism through which cells dispose of defective components and maintain proper function.
The lead author said that the topic required further investigation
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"This study highlights GTP as a previously under-appreciated energy source driving vital brain functions," Mr Brewer explained.
The research team determined that supplementing aged neurons with the two natural compounds successfully reversed these energy deficiencies and restored normal cellular maintenance processes.
"More work is going to be required to find the best way to administer this treatment, since a recent clinical trial involving UC Irvine researchers showed that oral nicotinamide was not very effective because of inactivation in the bloodstream," he stated.
"By supplementing the brain's energy systems with compounds that are already available as dietary supplements, we may have a new path toward treating age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease," the lead author added.