Turmeric and help for Alzheimer's A spicy ingredient of many curries may be an effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease, say researchers. The crucial ingredient turns out to be turmeric, a readily available spice. A team from the University of California at Los Angeles believes that turmeric may play a role in slowing down the progression of the neurodegenerative disease. The finding may help to explain why rates of Alzheimer's are much lower among the elderly in India as compared to the U.S. and other western cultures. Previous studies have found that Alzheimer's affects just 1% of people over the age of 65 living in some Indian villages. Researchers think drugs with similar properties could potentially be used as preventative treatments for Alzheimer's disease. But why not just incorporate the spice into your diet?   Turmeric is found in everything from mild Kormas to the hottest Vindaloos. The crucial chemical is curcumin, a compound found in the spice. Alzheimer's is linked to the build up of knots in the brain called amyloid plaques.Turmeric reportedly reduced the number of these plaques by a half. In addition,the researchers found that turmeric aids digestion, helps fight infection, and guards against heart attacks. Curcumin also appeared to reduce Alzheimer's-related inflammation in the brain tissue. Dr Richard Harvey, director of research at the Alzheimer's Society, said: "Curcumin has both anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Drugs may be developed in the future to make use of these special properties of turmeric, but why wait? Start using more in your diet. (The ingredient in turmeric that has the protective effect on the nerves is curcumin, and you can get that in capsules.)   Home