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Good... and now good FOR you, too!
Having recently lost a loved one to the insidious, chronic wasting away of Alzheimer's disease, I'm always on the lookout for new developments in the fight against this terrible stealer of lives lived and wisdom gained. Though various theories have come and gone, the recent success achieved by Japanese scientists builds upon previously recognized anti-cancer and anti-Alzheimer's properties attributable to curcumin, a main component of Tumeric.


The main problem with curcumin is that its beneficial properties are severely reduced as the compound is digested.

Japanese scientists at Tohoku University's Institute of Development, Ageing and Cancer are addressing that issue by synthesizing curcumin analogs that do not break down as quickly. This is especially promising for the treatment of digestive system cancers, especially colon cancer.

According to Hiroyuki Shibata, associate professor at the IDAC, "Our new analogues (synthetic versions) have enhanced growth suppressive abilities against colorectal cancer cell lines, up to 30 times greater than natural curcumin."

Is curry the cure?

If the synthetic polyphenols are robust enough to pass through the blood-brain barrier, it could mean much for the legions of current and future victims of Alzheimer's disease as well. (via The Register)

Steve Levenstein
Japanese Innovations Writer
InventorSpot.com