Prevent the destruction of neurons Red wine and green tea are the best way to stop the development of Alzheimer's

Natural chemicals found in green tea and red wine could disrupt decisively developing Alzheimer's disease, according to new research from the University of Leeds (UK), published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

In a laboratory experiment, the researchers identified the process that allows clusters of harmful proteins attach to brain cells, causing their death. They were able to disrupt this process using purified extracts of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a powerful antioxidant found in green tea, and resveratrol, a molecule present in red wine, with important therapeutic effects.

The results provide new opportunities for the development of drugs to treat Alzheimer's disease. "It's an important step to increase our understanding of the cause and progression of Alzheimer's disease," said lead researcher Professor Nigel Hooper, School of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, in the note to the study.

In his opinion, it is wrong to think that Alzheimer's is a natural part of aging, as it is a disease that, according to scientists, can be cured through the search for new drugs such as might arise from this research.

Understanding Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by a distinct accumulation of amyloid protein in the brain, which accumulates to form toxic and sticky balls of different shapes. These amyloid balls cling to the surface of nerve cells in the brain by binding to cell surface proteins called prions, causing nerve cells to malfunction and end up dying.

"We wanted to investigate if the exact shape of the balls of amyloid is essential for their binding to receptors of prions, in the same way that a baseball in his glove fits," he cites a co-author, Dr. Jo Rushworth. "If so, we want to see if you can alter the shape of the balls to prevent amyloid join prions, as this could prevent cells from dying."

The balls formed amyloid equipment in a test tube and added to the cells of human and animal brain. "When we added the extracts from red wine and green tea, amyloid balls and did not damage the nerve cells. We saw that this was because its shape was distorted, so that they could not join prions and alter cell function, "says Professor Hooper, who has said further that the team's next step is to understand exactly how amyloid interaction and prion kills neurons. "I am sure that this will increase our understanding of Alzheimer's disease," he said.