Research into the Health Benefits of Turmeric
THE LATEST IN NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE RESEARCH
- As patients with neurodegenerative conditions struggle to find adequate relief with conventional treatments, researchers have expanded investigations into nutritional interventions
- Curcumin has been identified as a prime candidate for optimizing brain health due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
Curcumin May Reverse Memory Problems, Improve Mood
- With more and more of the aging population affected by Alzheimer's disease, and clinical trials for new medications often providing underwhelming results, a new study in The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry may be especially promising. It finds that taking a daily dose of curcumin, the compound in turmeric root that gives curry its yellow color, may not only prevent memory problems from worsening over time, but actually improve them. And perhaps most noteworthy, these changes were seen not only in the participants' cognitive capacities, but also in their brain cells.
The effect of curcumin (turmeric) on Alzheimer's disease
- This paper discusses the effects of curcumin on patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Curcumin (Turmeric), an ancient Indian herb used in curry powder, has been extensively studied in modern medicine and Indian systems of medicine for the treatment of various medical conditions, including cystic fibrosis, haemorrhoids, gastric ulcer, colon cancer, breast cancer, atherosclerosis, liver diseases and arthritis. It has been used in various types of treatments for dementia and traumatic brain injury. Curcumin also has a potential role in the prevention and treatment of AD. Curcumin as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and lipophilic action improves the cognitive functions in patients with AD. A growing body of evidence indicates that oxidative stress, free radicals, beta amyloid, cerebral deregulation caused by bio-metal toxicity and abnormal inflammatory reactions contribute to the key event in Alzheimer's disease pathology. Due to various effects of curcumin, such as decreased Beta-amyloid plaques, delayed degradation of neurons, metal-chelation, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and decreased microglia formation, the overall memory in patients with AD has improved. This paper reviews the various mechanisms of actions of curcumin in AD and pathology.