as many as 4.5 million Americans suffer from the disease. The Alzheimer’s Association calls AD “a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys a person’s memory and ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate and carry out daily activities. As Alzheimer’s progresses, individuals may also experience changes in personality and behavior, such as anxiety, suspiciousness or agitation, as well as delusions or hallucinations.”

Now the good news. A recent study shows that curcumin boosts the body’s ability to clear the build-up of plaque in the brain that is linked to AD. Previous research shows that plaque, specifically from amyloid-beta deposits, could be a contributing factor to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Read about the study below. I am also including a piece about vitamin E and how it may lower the risk of mortality in male smokers.

As always, I wish you the very best of health,

Lee Swanson

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Curcumin

A curcumin complex extracted from turmeric helped the brain clear amyloid-beta plaque that could otherwise lead to development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological problems, according to researchers at the UCLA School of Medicine and the Greater Los Angeles Veteran’s Administration Medical Center.

According to the UCLA study, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, may lead to a new approach in treating Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by enhancing the natural function of the immune system using curcumin, known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Using blood samples from six AD patients and three healthy control patients, researchers isolated cells called macrophages, which travel through the brain and body devouring waste products, including dangerous amyloid-beta. The isolated immune cells were exposed to the turmeric extract (standardized to 95% curcuminoids) in a cell culture for 24 hours, after which time amyloid-beta was introduced to the culture. The treated macrophages showed improved ingestion of amyloid-beta compared to those not treated with curcuminoids. Macrophages from the healthy controls showed no changes with curcuminoids treatment.

Dr. Milan Fiala, lead author of the study, said “Curcumin improved ingestion of amyloid-beta by immune cells in 50% of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. These initial findings demonstrate that curcumin hay help boost the immune system of specific Alzheimer’s disease patients.”

Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease 10(1):1-7, 2006

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Vitamin E

Male smokers who have high concentrations of alpha-tocopherol vitamin E circulating in their bloodstreams have a significantly reduced risk of total and cause-specific mortality, according to a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Initiated by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Public Health Institute of Finland, the prospective cohort study involved 29,092 Finnish male smokers aged 50 to 69 who participated in the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene (ATBC) Cancer Prevention Study. Researchers measured fasting serum alpha-tocopherol and examined its association with total and cause-specific mortality.

During 19 years of follow-up, 13,380 deaths were reported, including 4,518 from cancer and 5,776 from cardiovascular disease (CVD). Men with the highest concentrations of circulating alpha-tocopherol had an 18% reduced risk of total mortality, compared to those with the lowest concentrations. Researchers also noted that the risks of death due to cancer, CVD and other causes were reduced by 21%, 19% and 30% respectively.

Researchers concluded: “Higher circulating concentrations of alpha-tocopherol within the normal range are associated with significantly lower total and cause-specific mortality in older male smokers.”

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 84(5):1200-1207, 2006

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NOTE: Most AD victims can have great recovery by simply using adequate Vitamin B-Complex in their diets. PHB