Curry component 'tackles Alzheimer's disease'
Wednesday, 04 Oct 2006 12:49
Curcumin, found in curry, 'targets' Alzheimer's disease effects
Science In Focus
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A chemical found in curry could help to tackle some of the effects of Alzheimer's disease (AD), scientists claim.
Researchers from University of California Los Angeles found that curcumin, which is also found in tumeric and is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, may help the immune system to clear the brain of amyloid beta, which form the plaques found in AD.
Writing in the October 9th issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, they claim that the findings may lead to a new approach in treating AD by boosting the natural function of the immune system by using curcumin.
Macrophages, cells which move through the immune system and get rid of waste products, including amyloid beta, were identified in six patients with AD and three healthy patients aged between 65 and 84.
The researchers then treated the macrophages with a drug derived from curcumin for 24 hours in a cell culture. Amyloid beta were then introduced.
Treated macrophages in AD patients showed an improved uptake of the waste product compared to the patients' macrophages not treated with curcumin.
The findings also suggested that younger patients may respond more effectively to the curcumin drug.
Macrophages in the healthy controls, which were already effectively clearing the waste, showed no improvement when curcumin was added.
"These initial findings demonstrate that curcumin may help boost the immune system of specific Alzheimer's disease patients," said study author Dr Milan Fiala.
"We are hopeful that these positive results in a test tube may translate to clinical use, but more studies need to be done before curcumin can be recommended."