Turmeric is well-known as yellow ginger and is widely used worldwide not only in cooking but in alternative medicine too. Studies show that turmeric and its potent components can cure and prevent the occurrence of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
German study pioneered by Dr. Adele Rueger in the Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine in Julich, Germany established their claim that turmeric is the answer to the long awaited cure for dementia. Dementia is a degenerative disease characterized by long term loss to think and reason clearly. According to Statistics, approximately 24 million people in the world living with dementia.
The study directed their claim on aromatic turmerone that is known to repair the brain cells. This compound found in turmeric was used to see its effects on endogenous neutral stem cells (NSC) in an adult brain.
Rats were used for the testing as the component was injected to their spine and their brain activity was measured and scanned. It was revealed that the part of the brain responsible for nerve growth and repair was active after the procedure.
Furthermore, it was noted that the infusion led to the expansion of two parts of the brain that are essential for brain cell repair, the subventricular zone (SVZ) and hippocampus. Death of neurons is the hallmark of dementia and finding the cure to prevent it is revolutionary.
Aromatic turmerone is not the component usually studied due to the popularity of its companion, curcumin which is known as a potent anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer element. Curcumin is also claimed to have an action on brain cell repair, making turmeric a very important discovery for dementia cure.
The researchers would like to have further studies on this component and its potency as a cure for brain degenerative diseases. Other studies are encouraged to further enlighten people on dementia and how turmeric can cure it.
