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Daily consumption of green tea catechin delays memory regression in aged mice

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Abstract

Almost all elderly people show brain atrophy and cognitive dysfunction, even if they are saved from illness, such as cardiac disease, malignancy and diabetes. Prevention or delay of brain senescence would therefore enhance the quality of life for older persons. Because oxidative stress has been implicated in brain senescence, we investigated the effects of green tea catechin (GT-catechin), a potential antioxidant, in senescence-accelerated (SAMP10) mice. The mouse is a model of brain senescence with short life span, cerebral atrophy and cognitive dysfunction. Mice were fed water containing 0.02% GT-catechin from 1- to 15-month-old. The mean dose was about 35 mg/kg/day. We found that daily consumption of GT-catechin prevented memory regression and DNA oxidative damage in these mice. GT-catechin did not prolong the lifetime of SAMP10 mice, but it did delay brain senescence. These findings suggest that continued intake of GT-catechin might promote healthy ageing of the brain in older persons.

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Acknowledgement

This work was supported in part by a grant for cooperation of innovative technology and advanced research in evolutional area (City Area).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, 52-1 Yada, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka , 422-8526, Japan

    Keiko Unno, Hirotoshi Yoshida, Daisuke Choba, Rie Fukutomi, Naomi Kikunaga & Minoru Hoshino

  2. Junior College, University of Shizuoka, 2-2-1 Oshika, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka , 422-8021, Japan

    Fumiyo Takabayashi

  3. Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, 52-1 Yada, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka , 422-8526, Japan

    Takahiro Kishido & Naoto Oku

Authors
  1. Keiko Unno
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  2. Fumiyo Takabayashi
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  3. Hirotoshi Yoshida
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  4. Daisuke Choba
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  7. Takahiro Kishido
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  9. Minoru Hoshino
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Correspondence to Keiko Unno.

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Unno, K., Takabayashi, F., Yoshida, H. et al. Daily consumption of green tea catechin delays memory regression in aged mice. Biogerontology 8, 89–95 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10522-006-9036-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10522-006-9036-8

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