Dr. Jun Tan of the Silver Child Development Center at the University of South Florida, and team, injected epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) into mice that had been genetically engineered to develop Alzheimer’s-like symptoms.
The investigators found that the EGCG, an antioxidant found in green tea, reduced production of beta-amyloid, a protein that causes the formation of plaque on the brains of Alzheimer’s victims.
The researchers report that over several months of treatment, plaque formation was reduced by about 54 %, but they warn that drinking tea may not have an equivalent benefit because other components of the beverage may block the EGCG.
The scientists plan to test oral EGCG on mice to determine whether it has a protective effect on their memories.