President’s Message
GRATITUDE – A FORGOTTEN VIRTUE?
Are you concerned about maintaining the health of your brain as you age?
You’re not alone. Losing one’s memory and mental abilities to cognitive decline is something we all fear, and the current statistics on the prevalence of cognitive decline in this country are not pretty. By age 65, sadly 1 in 8 adults will suffer from severe cognitive decline, and by age 80, an astonishing 1 in 2 will.
It’s a scientific fact that curcumin is an antioxidant compound found in the root of the turmeric plant, is one of the most powerful natural brain protecting substances on the planet! It continues to amaze scientists with its remarkable cognitive health benefits.
Turmeric has a long history as a healing herb and culinary spice in India. Interestingly, India has the highest per capita consumption of turmeric AND the lowest incidence of cognitive decline worldwide.
The hallmark process associated with certain types of cognitive decline is the formation in the brain of abnormal
protein structures. Normally when malformed proteins are formed with the brain, the immune system sends out
cells known as macrophages, which engulf and destroy the proteins. If this ordinary function fails, defective proteins accumulate in the brain and cognitive decline can follow.
Recent research is showing that curcumin encourages the immune system to send macrophages to the brain. A landmark clinical trial involving people with severe cognitive decline measured the effects of curcumin. Amazingly, the participants taking curcumin had significantly higher levels of dissolved abnormal proteins in their blood compared to those in the placebo group.
This study showed that curcumin has the ability to effectively pass into the brain, bind to beta-amyloid plaques and assist the body in their breakdown. Curcumin is one of the only substances known to have such a profound protective effect on the brain.
So douse your curry with haldi, reach out for a turmeric latte as a nightcap and stay mentally fit at any age!
Framroze Mehta
President