Turmeric root can cure Alzheimer's disease according to Dr. Sally Frautschy, a researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles. Alzheimer's disease comes from plaque that builds up on the brain. The plaque, made of amyloid protein and called Beta-amyloid plaque, is not only reduced by the
ingestion of turmeric root, it actually clears the brain of the plaque according to the research.
breaks into smaller pieces called a-beta that collects outside the cells and in between the neurons. Once there, it blocks the connections and causes damage that eventually leads to cell death.
There are three biological occurrences in Alzheimer's disease. The first is the formation of the plaque, the second is the formation of triangles neurofibrillary tangles and finally there is cell death. The amyloid creates a trigger that in turn makes the tangles. Finally, when the tangles clump in the cells, they cause the neuron to stress and cell death. The logic, therefore, would be to eliminate the formation of the plaque. The protein build-up also blocks the synopsis between cells that causes us to remember.
The studies show that animals with the same plaque on their brain have a reduction in the plaque when they receive turmeric root. Other studies show that no matter when the person receives turmeric, even during the later stages, there is an improvement because of the elimination of the plaque. Once cell death occurs in the brain, they are lost forever. This doesn't mean that the person can't retrain other parts of the brain.
The study by Frautschy involved middle aged and old rats. If you're a rat, you're middle aged at 9 months and old at 22 months. The rats received diets rich in curcumin, which turmeric contains. Frautschy then injected the rat's brains with amyloid to induce Alzheimer's disease. There was a reduction in the accumulation of the beta-amyloid found in the brain and the loss of protein associated with the accumulation. The group fed the curcumin also performed better on mazes than those not fed the additive.
This interesting finding might be the explanation why some countries whose diets are rich in turmeric, have little incidence of Alzheimer's. The broad difference between the occurrences of Alzheimer's Disease in Americans compared to their counterparts in India. In America, the statistics for the potential of Alzheimer's is 12.5 percent if you're over the age of 65. For that same group in India, the percentage drops to less than a percent. What is the difference?
The difference between the two groups of people might be to the eating habits of the group in India. Turmeric is a common ingredient in curry powder used in many of the Indian dishes. Because of the popularity of the spice in India, it could account for the difference in the occurrence of Alzheimer's in the two countries.
Turmeric also proved to be an anti-inflammatory spice that helped reduce any inflammation of the neurological tissues. Besides the use of Turmeric alone, Frautschy suggested that maybe combining the turmeric with another anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen might also help speed the recovery from the plaque build up of Alzheimer's disease.
One thing known is that curcumin is an antioxidant that has natural antiseptic and antibacterial properties. It is beneficial in preventing breast cancer in mice, causing melanoma cells to self-destruct, reduce the potential for childhood leukemia and detoxify the liver. Its anti-inflammatory and painkilling properties are equal to many drugs on the market and yet it has no side effects. Best of all, turmeric can cure Alzheimer's disease.