Around 700,000 people in Britain suffer from Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Recent research revealed that curcumin, a component of the spice turmeric, can help in preventing the onset of Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

Research team led by Professor Murali Doraiswamy, of Duke University in North Carolina used animal models to test effect of curcumin on dementia. It is believed that amyloid plaques, along with tangles of nerve fibres, contribute to the degradation of the wiring in brain cells, eventually leading to symptoms of dementia.

Researchers found that a curcumin-rich diet dissolved plaques in the mice. It also prevented younger mice from forming new plaques. These mice were specially modified so that at about 12 months their brain is riddled with plaques.

Professor Doraiswamy said: "There is very solid evidence that curcumin binds to plaques, and basic research on animals engineered to produce human amyloid plaques has shown benefits."

He added that a clinical trial was now underway at the University of California, Los Angeles, to test curcumin's effects in Alzheimer's patients.

Researchers also suggested that eating curry cannot compensate unhealthy lifestyle and insufficient diet. Combination of curry with good food and exercise can help in preventing dementia.