Tarun Posted January 23, 2005 Report Share Posted January 23, 2005 Curry Spice May Reverse Alzheimer's Bright yellow curry spice not only may treat Alzheimer's disease, but also lower your risk of ever getting it. The same pigment that makes this spice yellow may help prevent Alzheimer's by breaking up the "plaques" that mark the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients. If you possessed THESE traits as a teenager, you may have a lower risk of Alzheimer's as a senior citizen. Click to find out what they are. Scientists from the University of California Los Angeles and the Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Healthcare System found that the magic ingredient is curcumin, a component of the yellow curry spice turmeric, that appears to reduce deposits of beta-amyloid proteins in the brains of elderly lab mice that ate curcumin as part of their diets, reports Reuters. Studies have found that in India, where curry spice is a dietary staple, the rate of Alzheimer's disease among elderly adults is very low. If you eat these particular foods when you're young, will it prevent Alzheimer's when you're old? Some doctors think the answer is yes. Click for the delicious list of foods. It gets more interesting. One of the hallmark signs of Alzheimer's disease is the accumulation of beta-amyloid proteins in the brain. When the UCLA scientists added low doses of curcumin to human beta-amyloid proteins in a test tube, the curcumin prevented the proteins from aggregating and actually blocked the formation of the amyloid fibers that make up Alzheimer's plaques. Co-study author Dr. Gregory M. Cole said that findings suggest that curcumin could be capable of both treating Alzheimer's and lowering a person's risk of developing the disease. If you do this every day, you're more likely to keep your mind and memory sharp well into old age. Click to find out what it is. Curcumin is also high in antioxidants, a compound in certain foods that is known to help combat fatal illnesses, including Alzheimer's, cancer, and heart disease. There are two big questions the researchers have to answer: How high are the doses needed to fight Alzheimer's? Is curcumin in high doses really safe in elderly patients? A small trial with people who have Alzheimer's will begin soon. The study findings were published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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