Drop of turmeric in the eye could detect dementia

A drop of turmeric in the eye could detect dementia years before symptoms are seen, report British scientists. The drops, developed at University College London, could facilitate early diagnosis before any behavioural signs of memory loss. A daily dose of the drops helped to detect Alzheimer’s disease (the most common form of dementia) in mice, genetically engineered to develop the condition, two years before behavioural symptoms. Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, makes abnormal proteins in the brain visible by clinging to them and appearing as fluorescent spots. This is then detectable by looking through to the back of the eye.