Chapter 84 – Green Tea Effects on Age-Related Neurodegeneration: A Focus on Neuronal Plasticity

Aging leads to oxidative imbalances in the brain that result in adverse changes predisposing to the appearance of neurodegenerative diseases. The catechins available in green tea have beneficial effects in several experimental models of neurodegeneration. The prolonged oral intake of this beverage or its isolated catechins was able to improve the oxidative status of the hippocampal formation and other regions of the central nervous system and maintain or even enhance the cognitive performance of aged animals. The neuroprotective activity of green tea catechins is probably related to the modulation of various cellular signaling systems related to antioxidant defenses. The resulting increased levels of neurotrophins, namely, the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and antiapoptotic proteins, such as B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), stimulate synaptic plasticity, neurogenesis, and improved neuronal survival. These pleiotropic properties of catechins suggest that green tea can be helpful in delaying the harmful effects of aging in the brain and preventing neurodegenerative diseases.