UCLA News - Researchers have isolated bisdemethoxycurcumin, a natural ingredient in curcumin that may help the immune system clear the amyloid beta that forms the plaques found in Alzheimer’s disease. Curcumin is a natural substance found in the spice turmeric root, frequently used in Indian curries. Using blood samples of Alzheimer’s patients, researchers found that bis-demethoxycurcumin boosted immune cells called macrophages to clear amyloid beta. In addition, researchers identified the immune genes - MGAT III and Toll-like receptors - associated with this activity.

The study provides insight into the role of the immune system in Alzheimer’s disease and points to a new treatment approach for Alzheimer’s. Researchers say that it may be possible to test a patient’s immune response with a blood sample in order to individualize treatment. The results also suggest a new drug-development approach for the disease that differs from the amyloid-beta vaccine; this new approach relies on the natural immune system which is present at birth, rather than on antibodies produced by B cells — part of the active immune system that develops later.

This Alzheimer’s research appears in the July 16, 2007 early edition of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. These research findings on this curcumin derivative are quite interesting in light of some epidemiological evidence from India showing that people living in areas with higher curry consumption have a lower incidence of Alzheimer’s dementia. Standardized nutritional supplements of curcumin are available over-the-counter and online, and they contain at least small amounts of bis-demethoxycurcumin.