Curry spice compound may protect brain after traumatic injury

Traumatic brain injury victims do not have a lot of options when it comes to treatments.  However, there is promising news from a study that will be published in early 2011 about a new compound that may offer hope.

 

A synthetic compound derived from turmeric, a spice used to make curry, appears to improve behavioral and molecular deficits in traumatic brain injury (TBI) victims – at least in animal models.  According to researchers this discovery is significant because at present time there is no clinically documented treatment for traumatic brain injuries.

 

The compound was found to not only protect brain cells, but it also enhanced normal animals’ memory.  Specifically, the compound maintained important brain signal pathways necessary for brain cells to survive, and maintained connections between nerve cells that are normally lost in a brain injury.  In studies, this lead to a dramatic reversal of behavioral symptoms – both physical and mental – suffered by brain injured mice.

 

If this therapy does in fact have benefits, it could help hundreds of thousands of people with serious brain injuries.  TBI is the leading cause of disability and death in Americans under the age of 45, so any therapy that can help these victims would be welcome indeed.

 

Need help with a brain injury case?  Please contact our Houston office today – we have the experience and compassion you’re looking for after a serious brain injury accident.