Get spicy to tackle memory loss
A KEY spice found in curries could combat memory loss and boost concentration.
The Swinburne University of Technology turmeric trial results also suggests the spice extract may also help reduce fatigue.
While it’s too early to tell if turmeric could be a natural way to help ward off cognitive problems, epidemiological studies have shown that people who consume a lot of curries seem to have lower rates of dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.
As part of this trial, 60 adults, aged 60-85, were given a lipid soluble capsule of the antioxidant curcumin, which is found in tumeric.
Professor Andrew Scholey, from the university’s Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, said pure curcumin was not well absorbed making it less powerful than the capsule.
After just one hour of taking the spice extract, they found it boosted concentration.
“But the most striking and surprising finding was a very robust reduction in fatigue, which is a really big issue for people as they age and can be involved in depression and cognitive decline,” he said.
It also had a beneficial impact on mood when people were performing cognitive tasks.
PhD student Katherine Cox said her four week intervention in a healthy group of adults was unable to show if it could prevent dementia or Alzheimer’s.
“Some effects seen in animals studies, both biological and behavioural, do suggest that curcumin may have some very exciting potential in that area, but unfortunately human trials don’t seem to be at that stage yet.”
The researchers also pointed out it would be unwise to gorge on curries because the levels of curcumin may not be powerful enough.
Prof Scholey said he suspects that curcumin increases the blood flow, the production of a neurotransmittor important in memory and learning, and improves the powerhouses of cells- the mitochondria- in the brain.
It is believed to the first study to examine the effects of curcumin on cognition and mood in a healthy population of older people.
The study was sponsored by Verdure Sciences, which makes the capsule, but Prof Scholey said they had no influence in the study or its findings.
The tumeric study comes as a US study of 37 people found a diet high cocoa beans may give elderly people a memory boost by increasing the level of blood supply to the brain.
Originally published as Get spicy to tackle memory loss in News.com.au October 27th 2014.
