SANA MAHMOOD

KARACHI: Turmeric is an herb that is an inevitable part of the food cooked in Indo-Pak Sub-Continent.

The  mothers and grand-mothers of this region, believing in its ‘magical powers’ mix its powder to milk and give to kids in order to enable them combat various maladies. Elderly with mild pain or injury are also made to drink this concoction.

Now it has been discovered that intake of this yellow substance can help in prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s.

Logic is that turmeric contains curcuminoids having  curcumin in it (possessing antioxidant properties). It is this curcumin that curbs inflammation and help combat oxidative stress that helps to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

It is said that curcumin also helps thwarting the breakdown of brain’s nerve cells.  In a number of studies conducted on animals it has been observed that turmeric clears beta-amyloid from the brain. It is the culprit behind impairing brain function by destroying those structures through which nerve cells communicate with each other.

Critics, noting  that  since blood does not absorb curcumin well, held that it might not be able to combat Alzheimer’s. People with gallbladder disease are advised not to use turmeric because it can aggravate the condition.