Green Tea plus L-Theanine protect cognitive function in the elderly

L-Theanine has a chemical structure similar to Glutamate. L-Theanine easily enters the brain and has been shown to have a brain protecting effect and the ability to block brain cell death after a TIA. Part of this effect is blocking the neuro-stimulatory activity of Glutamate. L-Theanine also blocked the formation of Glutamate within the neuron blocking excitotoxicity. In elderly subjects with normal or slight cognitive dysfunction volunteers who supplemented with a combination of Green Tea and L-Theanine (48mg) showed significantly lower decline in cognitive function compared with those in the placebo group. The study is published online ahead of print in the April 6th, 2011 edition of Pharmacological Research