Evidence suggests quercetin protects against cholesterol-induced neurotoxicity. - GreenMedInfo Summary

Disturbances in brain cholesterol metabolism have been linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. A high-cholesterol diet increases fibrillar amyloidβ peptide (Aβ) deposition, inflammation, and apoptosis that eventually results in neurodegeneration and learning and memory impairments. In the October 2010 issue of The Journal of Pathology, Lu and colleagues provided a novel and interesting mechanism that explains how quercetin, a flavonoid found at high concentrations in green and black teas, may help to protect against cholesterol-induced neurotoxicity through activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a metabolic energy gauge. Further work will be necessary to address whether AMPK may be a potential target to combat neurodegenerative diseases.