L-Theanine and tics
Dipeptide of Theanine + amino acid
Somebody has patented the idea of using a dipeptide, consisting of Theanine + another amino acid, to improve symptoms in tics disorders (R1):
Tic disorders can be improved by administering theanine, an amino acid that crosses the blood-brain barrier, or a dipeptide consisting of theanine and a different amino acid. In addition, these compositions can be added to foods and drinks or pharmaceuticals.
Case report 1
Patient: 12 years old (Sixth grade male elementary school student); Chief complaint: shaking hands and head;
Previous history: bronchial asthma in early childhood
History: Since being elected as temporary class representative of the fourth grade class of elementary school, the patient had blinking eyes and subsequently shook his face and shoulders; thus, he visited a nearby hospital and received diazepam.
Since there was no effect, the patient was referred to a department of paediatric neurology to receive pimozide and got relief in 3 months. In the following year, around the time of moving to Osaka, the patient suffered a relapse of symptoms of shaking his face and shoulders again and thus visited the pediatric department of O hospital and received haloperidol.
However, the patient has continued to receive an increased dosage until now due to an insufficient effect, but the adverse effects of haloperidol such as a speech defect appeared recently; thus, an antiparkinson drug had also been given.
This time, since the course was unsatisfactory, the patient received 10 tablets combined with theanine in example 3 (1 g theanine) daily for 20 days; the symptoms of tic disorders have completely disappeared. Meanwhile, there were no adverse effects specially noted for theanine. (R1)
Case report 2
Patient: 13 years old; male child;
History: The patient had started blinking since around 5 years of age, and subsequently jumped and made voice sounds like “oof oof.” Since 11 years of age (fifth grade), the patient had showed additional tic symptoms such as licking his lips and thrusting out his tongue; about 3-month cycles of waxing and waning were repeated. The tics were milder when he was in school or with others, and were more frequently observed in the presence of only his family. At 12 years of age (in the third semester of the sixth grade), he visited our clinic worrying about bullying at his junior high school.
On the first visit, besides the above-mentioned symptoms, the patient continuously showed symptoms such as esotropia-like adducted eyes, convulsive grimace of the nose, cheeks, and mouth, swollen nose, and coughing. In addition, the patient continuously moved his hands and legs and tended to be restlessly absent-mindedly hyperactive.
Psychosocial case history: The patient was always crying due to inherent sensitivity; thus, his mother felt anxious about child-rearing. He was severely afraid of strangers and timid, and often cried for fear. He had a poor school record.
He often cut into others' conversation and was too talkative. His mother can get along with his younger brother casually, but is feeling awkwardness and pain with the patient due to the lack of closeness.
His father is not nagging so much, and seems to accept the patient. Clinical course: The patient was diagnosed as having Tourette’s disorder, and the disease was explained to his parents. To alleviate the symptoms, haloperidol (trade name: Serenase (trademark); Dainippon Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.) was used.
The dosage was gradually increased from 0.25 mg to 0.5 mg and thereby alleviated the symptoms such as tics and restlessness; thus, the administration has been continued. However, drowsiness was caused as an adverse effect, which caused nodding during study with resulting negative effects on his study.
Instead of serenase, 15 tablets combined with theanine in example 3 (1.5 g theanine) were given daily for 45 days and thereby completely improved his tic disorders. Meanwhile, there were no adverse effects specified for theanine.
The administration of theanine is scheduled to be continued until the end of puberty. The patient has joined his junior high school track club, and has tics, although unnoticeable. The patient has become a bit disobedient and often falls silent, but is highly motivated with study. (R1)
Case report 3
Patient: 7-year-old male child;
Chief complaint: repetitive guttural
History: As for the history, at around the time when his father was acutely hospitalized due to renal calculi in the summer of 1989, the patient often showed blinking and gestures of pulling clothes. He was diagnosed as having tics.
The mother disciplined the child by scolding. She was pressed with child-rearing and housework and had little free time; thus, she was always nagging due to frustration.
In July 1990, the patient developed involuntary movements of shaking his shoulders up and down, and in addition, repetitive guttural. In Sep. 6, 1990, the patient first visited the clinic.
The affected child was thin with abdominal palpitation and spasms of the musculus rectus abdominis. Since October, the patient received 8 tablets combined with theanyl-theanine in example 5 (0.8 g theanyl-theanine) daily for 30 days.
The tic symptoms of the patient almost disappeared with the use of the tablets combined with theanyl-theanine in example 5. In addition, there were no adverse effects specified for theanyl-theanine. (R1)
Case report 4
Patient: 5 years old
Chief complaint: Blinking
History: The patient was crying out and thus was forced to plunge into a pool against his will. Since that night, the patient had developed blinking tics. The patient was diagnosed as having tics.
The patient received 5 tablets combined with a mixture of theanyl-glutamine and glutaminyl-theanine (0.5 g as a mixture of theanyl-glutamine and glutaminyl-theanine) in example 7 daily for 20 days. By taking these tablets, the tic symptoms of the patient have almost disappeared. Meanwhile, there were no adverse effects specified for the mixture of theanyl-glutamine and glutaminyl-theanine. (R1)
You can notice that a stressful event was a common factor when tics developed in these reports.
Theanine inhibits autophagy
L-Theanine was found to inhibit autophagy, but then again, many amino acids do that by activating mTORC1 complex:
In conclusion, l-theanine through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions ameliorates SP-induced bladder hyperactivity via the inhibition of proinflammatory PKC/ERK/NF-ÎşB/ICAM-1/IL-33 signaling, oxidative stress, bladder nerve hyperactivity, apoptosis, and autophagy.
Antioxidant protection
It appears that Theanine upregulate Nrf2 (based on the increased enzymes that are direct targets of Nrf2):
It was reported that L-theanine showed antioxidant effects through adjusting the non-enzymatic activities, enhancing the activities and mRNA expression of catalase (CAT), and increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase 1 (Gpx1) in enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC)-infected mice. (R3)
Lowers NF-kB, Nitric Oxide and is Anti-inflammatory
The anti-inflammatory activity of L-theanine has been verified in vitro and in vivo.
Through establishing an interleukin (IL)-1β-stimulated chondrocytes, it was found that L-theanine could inhibit the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway, thereby reducing the expression of proinflammatory factors, including cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), prostaglandin E2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, as well as NO, and protect the degradation of extracellular matrix. (R3)
Counteracts THC by preventing downregulation of Akt and GSK3
We demonstrate for the first time that l-theanine, an amino acid analog of l-glutamate and l-glutamine, is capable of preventing long-term THC side effects. l-Theanine prevented the development of THC-induced behavioral aberrations, blocked cortical downregulation of local GSK-3 (glycogen synthase kinase 3) and Akt signaling pathways, and normalized dysregulation of both PFC and VTA DAergic activity, demonstrating powerful and functional neuroprotective effects against THC-induced developmental neuropathology. (R4)
Reduces beta-amyloid, inactivates ERK/p38 Kinase
 l-Theanine also significantly reduced oxidative protein and lipid damage and the elevation of glutathione levels in the brain.   These data suggest that the positive effects of l-theanine on memory may be mediated by suppression of ERK/p38 and NF-kappaB as well as the reduction of macromolecular oxidative damage (R5)