In California, the daily consumption of curcumin, found in turmeric, has been shown by UCLA researchers to improve memory and mood in people with mild, age-related memory loss. The people who took curcumin experienced significant improvements in their memory and attention abilities, while the subjects who received a placebo did not. For example, in memory tests, the people taking curcumin improved by 28 percent over 18 months.
The research examined the effects of an easily absorbed curcumin supplement on memory performance in people without dementia, as well as curcumin’s potential impact on the microscopic plaques and tangles in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Curcumin has previously been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in lab studies. It also has been suggested as a possible reason that senior citizens in India, where curcumin is a dietary staple, have a lower prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and better cognitive performance.