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Rayilyn Brown Board Member AZNPF Arizona Chapter National Parkinson's Foundation [log in to unmask] ----- Original Message ----- From: "rayilynlee" <[log in to unmask]> To: "RACHEL HASSAN SMITH" <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Sunday, October 14, 2007 5:29 PM Subject: GREEN TEA GOOD FOR PD > Word count 634 > > ISRAELI RESEARCHERS SHOW GREEN TEA HAS REJUVENATING EFFECT ON DAMAGED > BRAIN CELLS > > > In the past, it was thought that once brain cells were damaged, there was > no way to repair them. The old British adage - 'have a cuppa tea' - has > gained some powerful backing as a cure for life's ailments, thanks to the > results of an Israeli study. > > Researchers at the Technion Institute of Science in Haifa have shown that > feeding green tea extract to mice with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease > protects brain cells from dying, and helps rescue already damaged neurons > in the brain. The major question is whether these promising results are > reproducible in humans. > > Numerous studies around the world have suggested that drinking tea may > help > support the brain as people get older. Tea consumption is inversely > correlated with the incidence of dementia, Alzheimer's disease and > Parkinson's disease, which may help to explain why there are significantly > lower incidence rates of age-related neurological disorders among Asians > than in Europeans or Americans. > > But, according to Dr. Silvia Mandel of the Technion's Eve Topf Center for > Neurodegenerative Diseases, the study she led was one of the first to show > how the main antioxidant polyphenol of green tea extract, EGCG, actually > works when it gets access into the brain. Mandel presented her findings > last > month in Washington DC to a rapt audience of colleagues at the Fourth > International Scientific Symposium on Tea and Human Health. > > "It was received really well, and I was told there was extreme interest in > it," Mandel told ISRAEL21c. "Our study was the only one that went inside > the > mechanism of action of EGCG at the molecular level." > > "More recently, a PhD student of mine - Lydia Reznichenko - conducted a > "neurorescue" study that closely resembles what happens in humans - first > the disease is diagnosed and then the doctors prescribe medication," said > Mandel. "We induced Parkinson's in mice and waited until the damage was > evident. Then we began to administer the EGCG to the animals. The results > showed that the EGCG not only prevented further deterioration, but it > helped > to regenerate the already damaged neurons in the brain. This phenomenon is > called neurorescue or neurorestoration, and we're the first to show that > green tea is effective in doing this. > > "When I starting working there 10 years ago, I was told by my boss Prof. > Moussa Youdim, that the most acknowledged hypothesis regarding > neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, is an > excessive accumulation of highly reactive molecules known as oxygen free > radicals, and iron. At that time I stumbled upon a research paper dealing > with a green tea > extract which showed that it prevents damage to red blood cells. By a > closer > examination of the components in green tea, I discovered that the most > active ingredient of the extract, EGCG, is a potent antioxidant and iron > complexing agent. I looked up some more articles, and decided that maybe I > could study this compound - in any event, it is natural so it can't do any > harm, and it would be nice to tell people that they can drink something > pleasant like tea and get beneficial effects from it," she added. > > The years of research into tea are beginning to pay off for Mandel. Based > on > her initial findings in 2001 about the connection of green tea to cell > protection, tests are underway now in China, under the auspices of the > Michael J. Fox Foundation, on early Parkinson's patients to check whether > green tea extract is slowing down the progression of the disease. > > And don't think that Mandel doesn't take her own advice. "I try to drink > at least two cups of green tea a day. And I like regular dark tea too, so > I drink another two cups of that." > > Source: David Brinn, Health October 14, 2007 > > Rayilyn Brown > Board Member AZNPF > Arizona Chapter National Parkinson's Foundation > [log in to unmask] > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn