Curcumin, a prominent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory substance found in the spice turmeric, may increase the clearance of amyloid plaques in the brain. Amyloids are insoluble protein aggregates found in the brain tissue of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Amyloid accumulation in organs leads to amyloidosis. Dr. Milan Fiala, from the Greater Los Angeles Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, found in test tube studies that immune cells called macrophages taken from patients with Alzheimer's disease cannot efficiently eliminate amyloid. Treating these cells with curcumin enhances macrophage function. Dr. Milan Fiala says, "Further studies are needed to determine if increasing blood levels of macrophages using an oral curcumin agent clear the amyloid plaques, and produce therapeutic effects, in patients with Alzheimer's disease." See http://www.raysahelian.com/curcumin.html Comments: It is too early to tell whether taking one or two curcumin capsules a day
will help reduce the incidence of Alzheimer's disease, but since curcumin has many health benefits, I don't see any harm in taking a capsule a day or a capsule a few times a week. Discuss with your doctor if you are taking other supplements or medications.