Senior citizens’ spicy secret helps stave off memory loss

Does it seem like the number of people with Alzheimer’s is growing every year? I know it does to me.

When I was young, I didn’t know of a single person in my family suffering from the disease. Every person I knew, even those in their 90s had memories that were sharp as a tack. In fact, the first Alzheimer’s patient I ever met was not until my husband and I got married and I was introduced to his grandfather. But, that has changed…

Now, more and more people are suffering from memory problems and dementia.

And, I read a startling statistic. Between 2000 and 2014, deaths from Alzheimer’s disease increased by 89 percent.

Let me say that again…

Deaths from Alzheimer’s went up by 89 percent in just 14 years. If that’s not scary enough, every 66 seconds, someone in the U.S. develops the disease.

The good news is that scientists are putting everything they have into finding ways to preserve our memories and prevent Alzheimer’s.

And, a new study has provided insight into a common ingredient in one cuisine that could help in the battle against Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Let’s take a look…

Senior citizens with lower rates of Alzheimer’s and better cognition

Researchers at the University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA) set out to determine whether daily consumption of a certain form of curcumin — the substance that gives Indian curry its bright color — could improve memory and mood in people with age-related memory loss.

Participants between the ages of 50 and 90 years who had mild memory complaints were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or 90 milligrams of curcumin twice daily for 18 months.

All subjects received standardized cognitive assessments at the start of the study and at six-month intervals, and the levels of curcumin in their blood were monitored. Thirty of the volunteers underwent scans to determine the levels of amyloid and tau in their brains (you know, those microscopic plaques and tangles in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease) at the start of the study and again after 18 months.

Here’s what they found…

The people who took curcumin experienced significant improvements in their memory and attention abilities, while the subjects who received placebo did not.

In fact, in memory tests, the people taking curcumin improved by 28 percent over the 18 months. And, their brain scans showed significantly less amyloid and tau signals in the amygdala and hypothalamus (the area of the brain that controls memory) than those who took placebos.

So, what is curcumin and how does it work to improve memory and fight off Alzheimer’s?

Curcumin is the most active compound in the spice, turmeric, which is a staple in Indian food, like those flavorful curries.

According to the researchers, curcumin has previously been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in lab studies. This ability to reduce brain inflammation could be behind its ability to preserve memory and beat Alzheimer’s.

And, is likely the reason that senior citizens in India, where curcumin is a dietary staple, have a lower prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and better cognitive performance.

So, if you love of Indian food, give yourself a second helping.

A memory prescription to sprinkle on your food

With the skyrocketing rate of Alzheimer’s, it’s vital that you start protecting your memory now.

The first step is to add curcumin from turmeric to your daily regimen.

Other important supplements for your memory that you should include are:

• Black pepper extract – Black pepper is known to help you absorb curcumin.
• DHA – This omega-3 fatty activates your brain’s “growth” hormone BDNF, to support your memory, while boosting the connectivity between your brain cells and neurons. In one U.S. study, subjects who took DHA for six months experienced dramatic improvement in their learning and memory.
• Vitamin D3 – This sunshine vitamin helps support brain enzymes that produce the neurotransmitters needed for memory. It also helps protect neurons from free radical damage and inflammation and the amyloid beta plaques that can lead to dementia. One study showed that people with the highest vitamin D intake had a 75 percent LOWER risk of developing cognitive decline compared to those with the lowest levels.

Don’t let brain inflammation and dementia make you another statistic in the battle against Alzheimer’s. Use the secret of Indian senior citizens to combat inflammation and beat brain plaques to preserve your memories at any age.