Today is World Alzheimer’s Day 2009 and lets know the secret Indian ingredient which prevents Alzheimer’s Disease.
Indian communities that regularly eat curcumin have a surprisingly low incidence of Alzheimer’s disease but we don’t yet know why. Alzheimer’s Society is keen to explore the potential benefits of curcumin in protecting the brain and we are conducting our own research into this area ..says Professor Murali Doraiswamy
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. The term ‘dementia’ is used to describe the symptoms that occur when the brain is affected by specific diseases and conditions. This factsheet outlines the symptoms and risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease, and describes what treatments are currently available.
Professor Murali Doraiswamy, from the Duke University Medical Center in Carolina, has suggested that curcumin, found in the popular curry ingredient tumeric, could help prevent the onset of dementia.
Following a pilot study, a clinical trial is underway at the University of California to test the effects of curcumin on the amyloid plaque proteins that build up in the brain of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Professor Doriaswamy made his comments at the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Annual Meeting in Liverpool.
Turmeric is found in every Indian curry dish from mild Kormas to the hot and spicy sambars. The important chemical is curcumin, a compound found in the turmeric root. Alzheimer’s disease is associated with the build up of knots in the brain termed as amyloid plaques. Curcumin in Turmeric is believed to reduce the number of these amyloid plaques by a half.
Alzheimer’s Society is conducting its own research into this area. Researchers at Southampton University will examine whether curcumin could counteract some of the brain changes that are characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease.
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Alzheimer’s disease, first described by the German neurologist Alois Alzheimer, is a physical disease affecting the brain. During the course of the disease, ‘plaques’ and ‘tangles’ develop in the structure of the brain, leading to the death of brain cells. People with Alzheimer’s also have a shortage of some important chemicals in their brains. These chemicals are involved with the transmission of messages within the brain.
Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, which means that gradually, over time, more parts of the brain are damaged. As this happens, the symptoms become more severe.
Symptoms
People in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease may experience lapses of memory and have problems finding the right words.
As the disease progresses, they may:become confused, and frequently forget the names of people, places, appointments and recent events experience mood swings. They may feel sad or angry. They may feel scared and frustrated by their increasing memory loss become more withdrawn, due either to a loss of confidence or to communication problems.
Research at the University of North Carolina has discovered that Curcumin is the principal curcuminoid of the popular Indian spice turmeric, which is a member of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae). , from which the spice Turmeric is made, can act as an agent to block the development of Alzheimer’s. One of the conditions associated with Alzheimer’s is a build up of amyloid protein plaques in the brain. It is thought that this interrupts the transmission of electrical signals between brain cells, resulting in the symptoms of dementia.
Scientists have found that brain plaques in mice have been shown to dissolve when the mice were given high doses of curcumin and that in younger mice the spice appears to prevent the plaques from forming in the first place.
The research is supported by evidence from India where, according to Dr Susanne Sorensen of the Alzheimer’s Society, “communities that regularly eat curcumin have a surprisingly low incidence of Alzheimer’s”.
However, to have any impact, you would need to eat a curry meal two to three times a week, making it difficult to fit in all the other things we are supposed to eat as part of a healthy diet. Luckily they are working an a “curry pill” as an alternative.
Turmeric is an excellent source of iron and manganese and it is also rich in vitamin B6, dietary fibre and potassium. The turmeric oil is a significant anti-inflammatory but something even more potent than this oil is a compound called curcumin.
Curcumin is comparable to strong drugs such as hydrocortisone as well as over the counter anti-inflammatory, without producing toxicity within the body like these drugs do. Curcumin also provides the body with curcuminoids, which are believed to be antioxidant and antibacterial as well as anti-inflammatory.
Turmeric can be used for the following:
1. Digestive problems – curcumin helps the flow of bile and this helps to break down fats. It can also help in the treatment and management of inflammatory bowel disease.
2. Arthritis – curcumin is an anti-inflammatory that helps to relieve the aches and pains associated with arthritis.
3. Cardiovascular problems – curcumin can prevent the oxidisation of cholesterol in the body and, as oxidised cholesterol damages blood vessels and builds up as plaque that can cause heart attack or stroke, preventing new cholesterol oxidisation can minimise the progression of atherosclerosis and heart disease. It also improves circulation by stopping the blood platelets from sticking together.
4. Cancer – turmeric has been shown to help reduce the incidence of skin cancer and help to prevent and block the growth of cancers such as breast cancer and colon cancer.
5. Bacterial infection – the volatile oil in turmeric acts as an external antibiotic, thus helping to prevent bacterial infection in wounds.
6. Weight – can aid in fat metabolism and help in weight management.
7. Liver – turmeric is a natural liver detoxifier, helping to improve the condition of the liver and protecting it against certain toxins.
8. Alzheimer’s disease – can prevent and slow the progression of the disease by removing amyloidal plaque buildup in the brain.
Therapeutically, turmeric can be taken in powder or pill form. We can also gain some of its benefits by simply using it in cooking. However, turmeric should not be used by people with gallstones or bile obstruction. Even though it is often used by pregnant women, it is important to check with a medical professional first as turmeric can be a uterine stimulant.
Reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curcumin
http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/news_article.php?newsID=476
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