Turmeric Alzheimer's Cure
Scientists learn more about the health benefits of various spices and herbs every day. Turmeric shows promise in helping people stave off Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease robs people of their minds because of the build up of amyloid plaques and neurofibratory tangles in their brain. Studies show that consuming tumeric prevents this from happening in mice. People who live in India rarely develop Alzheimer's disease, but eat foods containing curry powder, which always contains turmeric. Consuming turmeric is safe, but always consult your doctor before taking any new spice or herb.
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Alzheimer's disease
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Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, progresses over time. Symptoms include problems with thinking, memory and behavior. More than 5.3 million Americans exhibit symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. The frequency of getting this disease increases as you age. Every year the government and individuals in the United States spend more than $100 billion treating Alzheimer's disease.
Beta Amyloid Plaques
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Beta-amyloid plaque appear in the brain of a person with Alzheimer's disease. They consist of abnormal protein accumulation that, over time, results in inflammation of nerves which stops nerve signals from getting from one part of the brain to another part. Eventually the brain cells die, leaving the Alzheimer's sufferer with memory loss, thinking difficulties and behavior issues.
Curcumin
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Turmeric comes from curcumin. You find it in curries and other spicy dishes from India, Asia and the Middle East. Like many other herbs, people first used curcumin as a seasoning. Later, people used it for medicinal purposes. Indian medicine has used turmeric to relieve pain and inflammation in the skin and in muscles for centuries.
In India, very few people get Alzheimer's Disease. Researchers TP Ng, PC Chiam, T Lee, HC Chua, L Lim, EH Kua published an article in the American Journal of Epidemiology in 2006 entitled "Curry consumption and cognitive function in the elderly." In this study, they investigated the association between the curry consumption and cognitive level in 1,010 Asians between 60 and 93 years of age. The study found that those who ate curry once a month or more scored better on cognitive tests than those who ate curry rarely or never.
Benefits of Curcumin
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Because of curcumin's anti-inflammatory properties, it may have a role in curing Alzheimer's Disease. Curcumin acts as an antioxidant, too. It inhibits the formation of free radicals. It decreases bad cholesterol. Small amounts of curcumin given over longer periods of time is better than taking a large dose all at once.
Safety of Curcumin
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No one reported serious side effects of taking tumeric thus far, but long-term use in high doses causes liver toxicity. For this reason, avoid turmeric products if you have liver disease, are a heavy drinker or take prescription medications metabolized by the liver. Curcumin interacts with blood thinners.
A 2003 trial with 25 subjects using up to 8,000 mg of curcumin per day for three months found no toxicity from curcumin.
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