Turmeric for Alzheimer's Disease

turmeric powder
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For protection against Alzheimer's disease (the most common cause of dementia among older people), the herb turmeric may be helpful. Long used in ayurveda, turmeric is perhaps best known as an ingredient in curry powder. It's said that increasing your dietary intake of turmeric or consuming turmeric in dietary supplement form may aid in the treatment and/or prevention of Alzheimer's.

Why Is Turmeric Sometimes Used to Fight Alzheimer's Disease?

Turmeric contains a class of compounds called curcuminoids, which include a substance known as curcumin.

Known to possess antioxidant properties, curcumin may play a key role in turmeric's potential effects against Alzheimer's disease.

Preliminary research indicates that the curcumin found in turmeric may help curb inflammation and combat oxidative stress, two factors found to contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease.

What's more, some preliminary studies suggest that curcumin may help thwart the Alzheimer's-associated breakdown of nerve cells in the brain.

There's also some evidence that turmeric may inhibit the formation of Alzheimer's-related brain plaques. Known to accumulate between nerve cells, these plaques form when protein fragments called beta-amyloid clump together. Beta-amyloid also appears to impair brain function by destroying synapses (structures through which nerve cells transmit signals to one another).

In several animal-based studies, scientists have observed that turmeric may help clear beta-amyloid from the brain.

For example, a mouse-based study published in Current Alzheimer Research in 2012 found that treatment with turmeric extract significantly reduced brain levels of beta-amyloid in mice genetically engineered to develop symptoms of Alzheimer's.

Research on Turmeric and Alzheimer's Disease

To date, there's a lack of studies testing turmeric's effects on Alzheimer's disease in humans.

Furthermore, there's some concern that taking turmeric in supplement form may fail to produce significant health benefits, since curcumin isn't efficiently absorbed into the blood.

The available clinical trials on turmeric and Alzheimer's disease include a small study published in Alzheimer's Research & Therapy in 2012. For the study, 36 people with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease were split into two groups: members of one group were treated with curcumin for 24 weeks, while members of the second group received a placebo for the same time period.

At the study's end, researchers were unable to find any evidence that treatment with curcumin had a significant effect on Alzheimer's disease. While the supplement was generally well-tolerated, three members of the curcumin group dropped out of the study due to gastrointestinal symptoms.


Although turmeric in small amounts in food is generally considered safe for most adults, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) warns that high doses or long-term use of turmeric may trigger such symptoms as diarrhea, indigestion, and nausea.

The NCCIH also advises people with gallbladder disease to avoid using turmeric as a dietary supplement, since it may aggravate the condition.

Alternatives to Turmeric

Healthy behaviors such as following a healthy diet, exercising regularly, watching your weight, avoiding smoking, keeping socially active, and engaging in intellectually stimulating activities are all crucial for preserving your brain health as you age. Additionally, certain natural remedies (such as omega-3 fatty acids and resveratrol) may help stave off Alzheimer's disease.

Vitamin D may also help protect against Alzheimer's disease. In fact, a preliminary study published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease in 2009 found that taking a combination of curcumin and vitamin D may prompt the immune system to clear beta-amyloid from the brain.

Before using any type of natural remedy (including turmeric) in treatment of Alzheimer's disease, talk to your doctor for help in determining whether this remedy is right for you.


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