Curcumin and Alzheimer's disease

Heston and Reagan both developed Alzheimer's/USGovt

Curcumin appears to have a positive impact on Alzheimer’s disease. A number of recent studies from the University of California, Los Angeles, and other institutions indicate that curcumin improves the cognitive abilities of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
 

What is curcumin?
Curcumin is a compound found in turmeric, a spice derived from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa. Turmeric is an ancient Indian herb that has been used for millennia in the Indian medical system called Ayurvedic medicine, and more recently studied extensively in modern Western medicine for its medicinal qualities.

Because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, curcumin has been used to treat many conditions, including dementia, cancer, hemorrhoids, atherosclerosis, arthritis, headache, and gastrointestinal problems.

Curcumin and Alzheimer’s disease
More than 1,000 studies of the effects of curcumin on Alzheimer’s disease and dementia have been done around the world. In a study conducted at the University of California, Los Angeles, scientists found that curcumin appears to help the immune system clear out amyloid protein. Amyloid protein is a component of plaque, a substance that accumulates in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease and is a major factor in the development of the disease.

An animal study found that mice withAlzheimer’s disease who were given low doses of curcumin had a 40 percent decrease in the levels of beta-amyloid compared with mice who were not treated with curcumin. In this study, scientists found that low doses of curcumin given over a longer period were more effective than high doses in fighting the degeneration of nerve cells in the brain.

In another investigation, experts discovered that curcumin can stop the progression of a type of cell (neuroglial cells) that also is a key element in the pathology of the disease.

Chronic inflammation of the neurons (nerve cells) in the brain is another important factor in Alzheimer’s disease. Several studies show that curcumin has a potent anti-inflammatory impact, which can inhibit processes that cause inflammation in the brain.

The antioxidant action of curcumin inhibits the formation and destruction of free radicals, which damage neurons in the brain and cause Alzheimer’s disease and other degenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. Curcumin also can cross the blood-brain barrier and bind to plaques, which can inhibit their accumulation and increase a process that results in the clearing of plaque from the brain.

How to take curcumin
Talk to your health-care professional before using curcumin. Studies in humans have found it to be safe in doses up to 10 grams per day. Side effects are rare when curcumin is taken in appropriate doses. Chronic use of curcumin can cause liver toxicity, therefore you should not use curcumin if you have liver disease, if you are a heavy drinker, or if you take prescription drugs that are metabolized by the liver.

Curcumin supplements are readily available in area pharmacies, natural and health food stores, and online. In the Phoenix area, you can try the following locations:

Arnie’s Health Foods

Healthy Habit Health Food

Hi-Health

Sprouts Farmers Market

You may also be interested in reading the following:

“Curcumin and chronic fatigue syndrome”

“Huperzine A improves memory in Alzheimer’s disease”

“Snoezelen rooms enhance lives of dementia patients”