A new study reveals that both green and black tea have the ability to inhibit the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE). This enzyme is important, because it breaks down the acetylcholine, a key neurotransmitter in the brain.

Why is this relevant? It turns out the main prescription drugs which are used to improve memory and cognition (while treating dementias like Alzheimer’s disease) operate via the same exact mechanism.

Additionally, the study found that both green and black tea also inhibits the enzyme butyrlcholinesterase (BuChE), another important enzyme involved in acetylcholine metabolism. The pharmaceutical reps who push the prescription drug Exelon (generic name: Rivastigmine- also used to treat memory loss) like to tout this mechanism of their drug too.

Interestingly, the study further noted that:

Green tea went one step further in that it obstructed the activity of beta-secretase, which plays a role in the production of protein deposits in the brain which are associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists also found that it continued to have its inhibitive effect for a week, whereas black tea’s enzyme-inhibiting properties lasted for only one day (from www.50connect.co.uk)

The above study was done by lead researcher Dr. Ed Okella out of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, and published in the journal Phytotherapy Research

An earlier post I made discussed research about the catechins in tea as being brain protective in that they strongly block the death of brain cells. (Please see “Tea is Brain Protective“)

You may also want to read another related post “Green Tea Keeps Brain Sharp” which describes tea’s beneficial cognitive effect on 1,003 Japanese adults.

Chinese club moss also boosts acetylcholine in the brain by inhibiting enzymes that break it down.

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A recent study out of the New York University School of Medicine reveals that the drug Exelon (Rivastigmine) can improve memory in patients who have moderate-to-severe memory loss from traumatic brain injury.

Specifically, improvements were seen in measures of verbal memory and visual processing tasks.

Exelon is normally a drug used to treat memory impairment in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Its mechanism of action is similar to Aricept (Donezepil) and Razadyne (Galantamine) in that it is thought to enhance cholinergic function in the brain.

The study, however, did not seem to support the effectiveness of Rivastigmine in patients with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI).

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