A recent study revealed that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), an abundant compound in green tea known for its antioxidant properties, protects against fat accumulation in the brain and reduces the risk of cognitive decline.
اضافة اعلان
The study authors noted that obesity has long been linked not only to metabolic disorders, but also to an increased risk of cognitive decline: excess adipose tissue triggers chronic, low-grade inflammation that can spread through the bloodstream to the brain, damaging neurons and disrupting the blood-brain barrier. Consequently, researchers decided to test the EGCG compound to evaluate its impact on these processes.
According to scientists, experiments conducted on laboratory mice demonstrated that EGCG reduces levels of pro-inflammatory molecules in brain tissue and alleviates oxidative stress in neurons caused by elevated fatty acids in the blood.
Furthermore, the compound helped restore normal function to mitochondria—the cellular "powerhouses"—whose function is typically negatively impacted by obesity, leading to neuronal damage and cell death. Separately, researchers observed that EGCG helped preserve the integrity of the blood-brain barrier, a protective structure that normally limits the penetration of harmful substances from the blood into the brain but weakens due to obesity-induced chronic inflammation.
Researchers emphasize that these results were obtained in a laboratory setting and do not mean that consuming green tea alone is sufficient to reverse the effects of obesity on the human brain. Nevertheless, they indicate that these findings offer promising prospects for developing dietary supplements and medications based on EGCG to protect the brains of overweight individuals.
mail.ru
