Researchers test green tea extract in search of preventative treatments for Alzheimer's disease

Three University of Waterloo students are investigating the potential of green tea extract, specifically its key component epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), in combating Alzheimer's disease at the nanoscale. Dr. Zoya Leonenko, their supervisor, leads the research, which examines how EGCG can protect the neuronal membrane from damage caused by amyloid beta, a protein cluster that forms plaques in the brain.

The students, Charlotte Baur, Hugh Hossfeld, and Isabella Barichello, use electrophysiology and surface plasmon resonance techniques to study the effects of EGCG on a model of neuronal cell membranes. Their findings indicate that EGCG may reduce membrane permeability and prevent amyloid-beta from attaching to the membrane's surface, potentially slowing or preventing Alzheimer's progression.

While more research is required to confirm the findings, the students' work offers valuable insights into this complex neurological disorder and its potential treatment.