Weekly curry 'may fight dementia'

Eating a curry once or twice a week could help prevent the onset of Alzheimer's disease and dementia, a US researcher suggests.

The key ingredient is curcumin, a component of the spice turmeric.

Professor Murali Doraiswamy, of Duke University in North Carolina, said there was evidence that people who eat a curry meal two or three times a week have a lower risk of dementia.

Curcumin appears to prevent the spread of amyloid protein plaques - thought to cause dementia - in the brain.

UK experts gave the theory, presented by Prof. Doraoswamy at the Royal College of Psychiatrists' annual meeting, a lukewarm reception, according to BBC NEWS.

Details at BBC site.