Curcumin and Alzheimer's

Growing old is certainly not easy. The large numbers of diseases geared up to attack one's body are a force to be reckoned with. But there is hope yet. Research indicates that a little help from Curcumin might ease the process. Curcumin has played a significant role in the treatment of a number of diseases like dementia, brain injury and so on. The growing list of disorders that benefit from Curcumin now includes Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Scientific research has shown that, as compared to other nations, the Indian elderly have lower rates of AD on the whole. One of the reasons for this could be because of their high intake of Curcumin, since Turmeric is a common ingredient in Indian food and is used liberally all over Asia.

Recent 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. There are unusual plaques and tangles in the brains of AD patients. These plaques are formed from a protein known as beta amyloid. The protein plaques accumulate in the brain and cause damage. They release oxygen-free radicals that steal excess electrons from other molecules in the brain using a process called oxidation. The body treats these plaques and free radicals as foreign invaders and defends itself by inflammation. It is believed that this long term inflammation may ultimately cause the death of brain cells and, eventually, symptoms of AD. The plaques and tangles interfere with neuronal functions is the brain. For instance, they cause obstructions in communication with other parts of the body. The large body of research on AD also associates high cholesterol and high blood pressure with Alzheimer's disease.

Currently, treating Alzheimer's disease is mostly limited to breaking down plaques, easing inflammation and reducing cholesterol and blood pressure. But, till date, this has only been done with a number of separate drugs. So far, no single pill has been able to relieve all of the symptoms. Now it is believed that a high dose of Curucmin may be able to do just that.

Curcumin is particularly promising since it attacks AD from many different angles. Curucmin is famously used for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cholesterol-lowering properties. All these processes play a role in the development of AD. Researchers, Cole and Ringman, reckon that Curcumin will not rid the patient of AD-induced plaques completely, but they do expect it to affect some of the processes of the disease in the blood stream and in the spinal fluid.

Studies have repeatedly proven Curcumin's capability in facing the wrath of AD. One 2004 study involving genetically altered mice suggests that Curcumin might slow down the accumulation of damaging beta-amyloid in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients and also split up existing plaques associated with the disease. The next year, researchers demonstrated, with the help of test-tube experiments, that Curcumin can prevent the formation of amyloid fibers. Further investigation showed that mice that were raised on a diet including Curcumin had lesser beta amyloid proteins in their brain than mice that followed a normal diet. Even when the Curcumin diet plan was started late in the life of the mice, the amount of beta amyloid protein in the brain still lowered. These studies point to the crucial role that Curcumin plays in the prevention as well as control of AD.

The many effects of Curcumin include decreased Beta-amyloid plaques, delayed degradation of neurons, metal-chelation, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and decreased microglia formation. In people who are already suffering from AD, Curcumin's antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and lipophilic action has the potential to improve the brain's functioning. All of this leads to better, improved memory in AD patients.

New approaches have been developed in the prevention and treatment of AD. A type of vitamin D, called vitamin D3, has the capability to boost the immune system and protect the brain against the protein amyloid beta. It works well alone, and also with natural or synthetic Curcumin. Curcuminoids work by enhancing the surface binding of amyloid beta to the macrophages, while vitamin D3 stimulates the uptake and absorption of amyloid beta in the macrophages. Thus, there is reason to believe in the efficacy of these two compounds when they are ingested together.

The wonder of Curcumin is that it's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action extends beyond AD. Inflammation and oxidative damage are involved in a number of other diseases that plague people as they grow older. These include cancer, Parkinson's disease and even arthritis. Curcumin affects them all. Not only that, Curcumin also works to keep many diseases at bay. Which means that using Curcumin as a preventive agent may benefit the aged in more ways than one.