Nutritional Duo Boosts Brain Cell Cleanup, Shows Promise Against Alzheimer’s-Like Decline
New research indicates a combination of nicotinamide (a form of vitamin B3) and a compound found in green tea may restore energy levels in aging brain cells, leading too improved removal of harmful protein aggregates and reduced oxidative stress – hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Researchers led by Professor Gregory Brewer identified a decline in guanosintriphosphate (GTP), an essential energy molecule, in aging neurons as a fundamental problem. “With increasing age, the brains of people show a decline in neuronal energy mirrors, which limits the ability to remove undesirable proteins and damaged components,” Brewer explained in a medicalxpress notice.
The team utilized a specialized tool, dubbed Geval, which illuminates in the presence of GTP, to measure energy levels in brain cells from aged mice exhibiting Alzheimer’s-like symptoms. findings revealed:
Old brain cells possess less energy compared to young cells.
Energy levels were notably low within the cells’ mitochondria (the “power plants”).
* Insufficient energy hinders the cells’ ability to effectively eliminate waste products.
The research demonstrated that restoring energy levels aided neurons in regaining autophagy – the cellular process of clearing damaged components. “We found that the restoration of the energy mirrors helps the neurons to regain this critical cleaning function,” said Brewer.
Though, researchers caution that oral intake of nicotinamide has shown limited effectiveness in clinical studies due to inactivation in the bloodstream, presenting a challenge for practical application.
