According to the study by researchers at the Duke University in North Carolina, the main ingredient of turmeric appears to be curcumin. This ingredient is useful in preventing the spread amyloid protein plaques in the brain. The collection of these plaques in the brain is a characteristic feature associated with dementia and other conditions like Alzheimer's disease.

"There is very solid evidence that curcumin binds to plaques, and basic research on animals engineered to produce human amyloid plaques has shown benefits," lead researcher Professor Murali Doraiswamy, of Duke University in North Carolina revealed at the annual meeting of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in the UK.

In a study on lab mice, the researchers found that injecting large doses of curcumin dissolved the brain plaques. Curcumin also appeared to prevent the formation of these plaques in the first place.

"Turmeric has been studied not just in Alzheimer's research but for a variety of conditions, such as cancer and arthritis. Turmeric is often referred to as the spice of life in ancient Indian medical lore," said Professor Doraiswamy.

The researchers are now testing out the effects of curcumin on brain plaques in human subjects.

Curry is a spicy dish containing vegetables, salt and various spices including turmeric. The latter is an integral part of the diet in Indian communities and anecdotal evidence indicates the rate of Alzheimer's disease is very low in such communities.

As the above study indicates, consuming curry is a good habit, but it should be in conjunction with a healthy diet and a decent exercise regimen.