Alzheimer's disease is a debilitating and ultimately lethal neurodegenerative disorder that currently afflicts about 18 million people worldwide. The incidence of the disease increases exponentially with age and, with life expectancy rising in many parts of the world, global prevalence is expected to double by 2025. Alzheimer's disease is characterized by progressive intellectual deterioration; starting with memory loss that is followed by intellectual impairment, poor decision making, uncoordinated movements, speech impediments and loss of recognition of familiar people and places. Although the incidence of Alzheimer's disease is increasing rapidly in many developing countries, on the Indian subcontinent it remains rare, even among the high-risk age groups. Recent studies have associated this reduced risk primarily with the high levels of consumption of turmeric that, together with several other spices, has been shown to have protective and possibly curative effects against the disease. This discovery has led to intensive research into the potential use of spices as natural treatments for Alzheimer's disease.

The causes of Alzheimer's disease are not fully understood, but there are several pathological processes that occur in those afflicted with this illness. The most prominent of these is the deposition of an abnormal protein, beta-amyloid, in the brains of Alzheimer's disease sufferers. -amyloid is deposited in the form of plaques between the neurons and also accumulates in the walls of small blood vessels in the brain, where it impedes the flow of blood to brain tissues. The aggregation inside the neurones of abnormal amounts of tau protein filaments is another pathological feature of Alzheimer's disease. A further process associated with this malady is atrophy (wasting) of nerve tissue which leads to the loss of synapses and their associated neurotransmitter chemicals from key areas of the brain. In all cases, the precise causes of these pathological processes are unclear but they, and certain other factors, appear to increase the risk and aggravate the development of Alzheimer's disease. total3page: Pre 1 Next