A new study by scientists in Germany has found a that a main ingredient in curry powder, the spice turmeric, can help the brain regenerate neurons and repair itself.
When researchers coated neural stem cells, isolate in petri dishes, in a chemical extracted from turmeric, the cells grew more prolifically into neurons than did control cells untouched by any foreign substances. The same turmeric-derived chemical compound had similar effects when injected into the brains of live rats.
Neural stem cells are located throughout the brain, and are a key source of healing for the human brain. Previous studies have showed that an abundance of neural stem cells are linked with higher rates of regeneration after a traumatic and damaging event like a stroke.
What remains to be understood is whether the chemical compound, known as ar-turmerone, can be carried into the brain in high enough concentrations to make a difference. Still, researchers are hopeful.
"It is interesting that it might be possible to boost the effectiveness of the stem cells with aromatic-turmerone," corresponding author Dr. Maria Adele Rueger told BBC News. "And it is possible this in turn can help boost repair in the brain."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is planning a large study into potential connections...
Australia's most prolific blood and plasma donor, James Harrison, has died at age 88. Known as...
A bill that would have required women seeking medication abortions to get ultrasounds has been vetoed...
The Philadelphia school district will reportedly ignore a rule directing schools to ban transgender athletes from...
