Turmeric Anti-Alzheimer's Spice

What part of the world is the incidence of Alzheimer's nearly unheard of? You might be surprised to hear that Alzheimer's affects just 1% of people over the age of 65 living in the villages of India compared to 4 times that level for the same age group in the United States. How is this possible? While the research is ongoing, a team medical scientists from UCLA believes that turmeric may play a role in slowing down the progression Alzheimer's disease.

Quick Statistics on Alzheimer's Disease (AD)

• One in eight persons over 65 and nearly half of those over 85 have AD
• Women, who on average live longer than men, are more likely to have AD
• Age is a significant risk factor for AD, but AD is not a normal part of aging
• A small percentage of Alzheimer cases is caused by rare, genetic variations found in a few hundred families worldwide
  

Turmeric, which is a root related to ginger, contains curcumin which is the property believed to fight Alzheimer's disease. It works by blocking a potent protein that promotes an abnormal inflammatory response in the body.

Photo by Karen Vaughan

Moreover, clinical trials have found that turmeric is effective at obstructing a natural chemical called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) which contributes to cancers and arthritis and is resistant to chemotherapy drugs.

 Photo by Sensetalks

If you're now itching to sprinkle turmeric on everything you eat, you can probably start by using more curry powder; turmeric is one of the key spices in the flavorful mix. Whole Foods has a page on turmeric with extensive detail on the health benefits and food combination, such as how turmeric and onions may help to prevent colon cancer or how turmeric and cauliflower may prevent prostate cancer. So sprinkle liberally and stay healthy!