If brain cells age, they lose their cleaning function. California researchers have now discovered two nutritional supplements that reverse this process.
Fulda – With increasing age, our brain cells lose their ability to clean themselves and remove harmful proteins. This decline in waste disposal of the brain is one of the main factors for age -related cognitive problems and diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Researchers at the University of California (Irvine) have now published a special discovery in August 2025: A combination of two certain nutritional supplements could reverse this aging process and restore the cleaning function of aging brain cells
The promising solution: vitamin B3 and green tea extract
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The scientists tested a combination of two natural connections:
- Nicotinamide (a form of vitamin B3)
- Epigallocatechin-Gallat (EGCG) (an antioxidant made of green tea)
The result showed that already 24 hours after the treatment, the GTP mirrors in aged neurons were restored to the values that are typically seen in younger cells, as reported 24Vita.de.
Regeneration effects in just 24 hours
The restoration of the energy supply was triggered by several positive effects:
- Improved energy metabolism: The basic energy supply of the cells was restored
- Activated transport proteins: Important GTPasen (Rab7 and ARL8B) for cellular transport have been reactivated
- Efficient protein removal: Harmful amyloid beta-aggregates, an Alzheimer’s license plate, were successfully removed
- Reduced oxidative stress: Another factor in neurodegeneration was reduced
The scientific background: why this brain ages
The researchers led by Professor Gregory Brewer identified a fundamental problem of age neurons: the lack of guanosintriphosphate (GTP), an essential energy molecule. “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,” explains Brewer in a message medicalxpress.
The scientists wanted to measure how much energy is available in the brain cells. To do this, they used a kind of energy measuring device called Geval, whereby it is a special tool that lights up when it finds energy (GTP) in the cells. With this shining measuring device, you examined brain cells from old mice that have similar problems like Alzheimer’s patients. They found:
- Old brain cells have less energy than young
- There was particularly little energy in the power plants of the cells (mitochondria)
- Without enough energy, the cells can no longer dispose of their waste products properly
Challenges in application
The lack of energy had dramatic consequences for a vital process: autophagy. This is the process, eliminating components damaged by cells. “We found that the restoration of the energy mirrors helps the neurons to regain this critical cleaning function,” said Brewer.
Despite the promising results, the researchers warn against hasty conclusions. An important problem: The oral intake of Nicotinamide proved to be less effective in clinical studies, since the substance is inactivated in the bloodstream.
