Curries to beat Alzheimer's

They have long helped to keep the bowels regular at the cost of scorching your taste-buds - but hot curries have been found to guard against the onset of brain diseases such as Alzheimer's.

One of the main spices used in every curry from the korma to the vindaloo protects against neurogenerative illnesses, scientists have discovered.

Turmeric contains the chemical compound curcumin, which triggers enzyme activity in the brain and protects it from the progression of disease. The discovery was made by a team of American and Italian scientists. Tests on rats revealed curcumin produces an enzyme, hemeoxygenase, which defends against so-called 'free radical' molecules that cause cells to act abnormally and die.

The damage done to brain cells by free radicals is a major cause of Alzheimer's and is believed to be an important factor in the way people age.

The researchers from the Italian University of Catania and New York Medical College found that the brains of rats exposed to curcumin were less affected by cell damage than those that had no exposure.

They presented their findings to the American Physiological Society.

There is currently no cure for Alzheimer's, which causes progressive dementia in the elderly and affects about 700,000 people in Britain.

Curcumin is already known among doctors for its medicinal properties. It can be used as an antiseptic and to prevent liver and kidney damage.