Turmeric is a plant belonging to the ginger family. Curcumin is the main active constituent of turmeric and has been found in scientific research to be a potential treatment for dementia. However, consult with your doctor before trying to treat dementia with curcumin.
Antioxidant
Curcumin may protect the brain from dementia because of its antioxidant properties, according to the researchers in a study published in the September 2009 "European Neuropsychopharmacology." Antioxidants protect cells from damage caused by free radicals, which are compounds that attach to and destroy cells.
Cognitive Performance
Curcumin has been found to improve cognitive performance, according to the "European Neuropsychopharmacology" study. Specifically, rats exhibited enhanced memory as measured by completion time within a water maze. Curcumin was found to enhance activity in the hippocampus, an area of the brain involved in memory.
Choline Acetyltransferase
The "European Neuropsychopharmacology" study found that curcumin raises the activity of choline acetyltransferase within the brain. Choline acetyltransferase is an enzyme that is formed in brain neurons and is associated with neurodegenerative conditions when depleted.
Neuroinflamation
Neuroinflammation is a key contributor to Alzheimer's disease. Curcumin has been found to be an anti-inflammatory, according to an article published in the August 2009 "Current Opinion in Pharmacology." Therefore, the researchers suggest that curcumin is a potential therapeutic agent for treating Alzheimer's disease.
References
- "European Neuropsychopharmacology"; Amelioration of Cognitive Deficits and Neurodegeneration by Curcumin in Rat Model of Sporadic Dementia of Alzheimer's Type (SDAT); Tauheed Ishrat, Md Nasrul Hoda, M. Badruzzaman Khan et al.; September 2009
- "Current Opinion in Pharmacology"; Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's Disease: Different Molecular Targets and Potential Therapeutic Agents Including Curcumin; B. Ray, & D.K. Lahiri; August 2009
