Curry may help beat Alzheimer's

Curry could hold the key to beating Alzheimer's, scientists revealed today.

Researchers have found that curcumin, the yellow pigment in curry spice, may not only ward off the brain disease but could also be used to treat existing victims.

Affecting about 750,000 people in Britain, Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia. It occurs when protein fragments build up in the brain and stop it functioning normally.

Professor Gregory Pole and his University of California team found that curcumin prevents accumulation of the fragments, known as beta amyloids. The spice was also found to help break up existing damage, raising hopes it could be used as a potential therapy.

Professor Pole's experiments on mice found that curcumin is actually more effective than many prescription drugs. The discovery may explain why in India rates of Alzheimer's are among the lowest in the world.

Published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, the US research reveals that the low molecular weight of curcumin allows it easily to penetrate the brain and attach itself to the beta amyloids, curbing their damaging effects. The researchers now hope the spice could be used as a powerful antioxidant and antiinflammatory drug for other diseases.