| Dr. Jai Maharaj 2005-01-12, 7:11 am |
| UCLA-VA study names India dietary staple as potential Alzheimer's weapon
Public release date: 28-Dec-2004
Contact - Dan Page
dpage@mednet.ucla.edu
310-794-2265
University of California - Los Angeles
UCLA-VA study names India dietary staple as potential
Alzheimer's weapon
Yellow pigment in curry spice blocks, breaks up brain
plaques in mice
A dietary staple of India, where Alzheimer's disease
rates are reportedly among the world's lowest, holds
potential as a weapon in the fight against the disease.
The new UCLA-Veterans Affairs study involving genetically
altered mice suggests that curcumin, the yellow pigment
in curry spice, inhibits the accumulation of destructive
beta amyloids in the brains of Alzheimer's patients and
also breaks up existing plaques.
Reporting in the Dec. 7, 2004, online edition of the
Journal of Biological Chemistry, the research team also
determined curcumin is more effective in inhibiting
formation of the protein fragments than many other drugs
being tested as Alzheimer's treatments. The researchers
found the low molecular weight and polar structure of
curcumin allow it to penetrate the blood-brain barrier
effectively and bind to beta amyloid.
In earlier studies (Journal of Neuroscience, 2001;
21:8370-8377; Neurobiology of Aging, 2001; 22:993-1005),
the same research team found curcumin has powerful
antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which
scientists believe help ease Alzheimer's symptoms caused
by oxidation and inflammation.
The research team's body of research into curcumin has
prompted the UCLA Alzheimer's Disease Research Center
(ADRC) to begin human clinical trials to further evaluate
its protective and therapeutic effects. More information
about enrolling in this and other clinical trials at the
Center is available by calling (310) 206-3779 or online
at http://www.npistat.com/adrc/Treatment.asp.
"The prospect of finding a safe and effective new
approach to both prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's
disease is tremendously exciting," said principal
investigator Gregory Cole. He is professor of medicine
and neurology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at
UCLA, associate director of the UCLA Alzheimer's Disease
Research Center, and associate director of the Geriatric
Research, education and Clinical Center at the VA Greater
Los Angeles Healthcare System at Sepulveda, Calif.
"Curcumin has been used for thousands of years as a safe
anti-inflammatory in a variety of ailments as part of
Indian traditional medicine," Cole said. "Recent
successful studies in animal models support a growing
interest in its possible use for diseases of aging
involving oxidative damage and inflammation like
Alzheimer's, cancer and heart disease. What we really
need, however, are clinical trials to establish safe and
effective doses in aging patients."
The research was funded by the Siegel Life Foundation,
Veterans Affairs, Alzheimer's Association, UCLA
Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and private donors.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an irreversible, progressive
brain disorder that occurs gradually and results in
memory loss, unusual behavior, personality changes, and a
decline in thinking abilities. These losses relate to the
death of brain cells and the breakdown of the connections
between them.
The disease is the most common form of dementing illness
among middle and older adults, affecting more than 4
million Americans and many millions worldwide. The
prevalence of Alzheimer's among adults ages 70-79 in
India, however, is 4.4 times less than the rate in the
United States.
Widely used as a food dye and preservative, and in some
cancer treatments, curcumin has undergone extensive
toxicological testing in animals. It also is used
extensively in traditional Indian medicine to treat a
variety of ailments.
Other members of the research team are Fusheng Yang,
Giselle Lim, Aynun Begum, Mychica Simmons, Suren
Ambegaokar, Ping Ping Chen of UCLA; Rakez Kyad and
Charlie Glabe of the university of California at Irvine;
and Sally Frautschy of UCLA and the Greater Los Angeles
VA Healthcare System at Sepulveda.
The Alzheimer Disease Research Center at UCLA, directed
by Dr. Jeffrey L. Cummings, was established in 1991 by a
grant from the National Institute on Aging. Together with
grants from the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center of
California and the Sidell-Kagan Foundation, the center
provides a mechanism for integrating, coordinating and
supporting new and ongoing research by established
investigators in Alzheimer's disease and aging.
Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Health Care System
and Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center combine resources to
form a unified Geriatric Research education and Clinical
Center, one of 20 nationwide. These centers of excellence
are designed to improve health care and quality of life
to older veterans through the advancement and integration
of research, education and clinical achievements in
geriatrics and gerontology into the total VA health care
system and broader communities.
A copy of the full paper can be found on the Journal of
Biological Chemistry Web site at
http://www.jbc.org/cgi/content/abst...=&FIRSTINDEX=0.
Additional online resources:
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA:
www.medsch.ucla.edu/
UCLA Alzheimer's Disease Research Center:
www.adc.ucla.edu/
VA Geriatric Research, education and Clinical Center:
http://www.grecc-gla.org/mission.htm
http://www3.eurekalert.org/pub_rele...n-usn122804.php
- - - - - - -
Posted on 01/12/2005 4:05:49 AM PST by zarf
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-To: zarf
Curcumin is also known as turmeric, a common and very
cheap spice. Here's additional information on it, some
clinical, some having to do with using it in cooking.
http://psa-rising.com/eatingwell/turmeric.htm
I don't love it, but do sprinkle some on veggies. A
better cook would make it a much more interesting
seasoning. You can also buy it in capsules for medicinal
use. Same stuff.
Posted on 01/12/2005 4:15:00 AM PST by Veto!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
End of forwarded messages
Jai Maharaj
http://www.mantra.com/jai
Om Shanti
Hindu Holocaust Museum
http://www.mantra.com/holocaust
Hindu life, principles, spirituality and philosophy
http://www.hindu.org
http://www.hindunet.org
The truth about Islam and Muslims
http://www.flex.com/~jai/satyamevajayate
The terrorist mission of Jesus stated in the Christian bible:
"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not so send
peace, but a sword.
"For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the
daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in
law.
"And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
- Matthew 10:34-36.
o Not for commercial use. Solely to be fairly used for the educational
purposes of research and open discussion. The contents of this post may not
have been authored by, and do not necessarily represent the opinion of the
poster. The contents are protected by copyright law and the exemption for
fair use of copyrighted works.
o If you send private e-mail to me, it will likely not be read,
considered or answered if it does not contain your full legal name, current
e-mail and postal addresses, and live-voice telephone number.
o Posted for information and discussion. Views expressed by others are
not necessarily those of the poster.
FAIR USE NOTICE: This article may contain copyrighted material the use of
which may or may not have been specifically authorized by the copyright
owner. This material is being made available in efforts to advance the
understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic,
democratic, scientific, social, and cultural, etc., issues. It is believed
that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as
provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title
17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without
profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included
information for research, comment, discussion and educational purposes by
subscribing to USENET newsgroups or visiting web sites. For more information
go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml
If you wish to use copyrighted material from this article for purposes of
your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the
copyright owner.
|