Food Spices May Exert Neuroprotective Effects

Neurodegenerative diseases are a group of progressive neurological disorders that damage or destroy the function of neurons, and include Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, brain tumor, and meningitis.  It is interesting to note that the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases among people living in the Asian subcontinent is much lower than in North America, thus some researchers posit the influence of lifestyle factors; for example, the those residing in the Asian subcontinent regularly consume spices.  Bharat Bhushan Aggarwal, from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Texas, USA), and colleagues submit that extensive research over the last 10 years indicates that nutraceuticals derived from such spices as turmeric, red pepper, black pepper, licorice, clove, ginger, garlic, coriander, and cinnamon target inflammatory pathways, and thereby may prevent neurodegenerative diseases.