Alzheimer's disease, Alzheimer disease, Alzheimer's, AD, or whatever you care to call this slow train to nowhere that results in a decrease in the ability to think or remember - the most common form of dementia, can be fought with simple spices – two in fact – that a lot of us have sitting in our spice racks or up in a kitchen cabinet right now. Most of us don’t think about growing old … and yet it happens every day. What is also happening is we are forgetting words or misplacing items. Then, further down the track we are forgetting what we just read, or ask the same question over and over, or not remember names when meeting new people (although this one has been an ongoing problem for me – like forever!) Gulp! 
What struck me about growing old and AD is that some of us prep and plan for some sort of “end of the world as we know it” scenario – with the mindset that we are going to be perpetually young … forever, even after this TEOTWAWKI happens. I mean, who adds a cane or two to their preps? Or adult diapers? Or elbow or knee supports? Or compression socks? You know, getting old things? And yet, these items are included in the arsenal of just about every person-of-getting-old-age?
We are all getting older and we cannot wait until times when we no longer know who we are, where we are and who the people around us are, to slow this train down. The time to take action is now - for everyone. People who have experienced AD in loved ones will attest to the affects it can have on the whole family. Now, consider you and your preparedness community, or your prepper group? People with AD will be increasingly reliant on others for assistance, a luxury we may not have if and when the poo ever hits the fan. This is why I am sharing this easy-peezy solution so you can start now.
So what are these spices to a clearer mind? They are turmeric and pepper. Oh no! Not peppers … (reference to my Doomsday Preppers episode on National Geographic Channel and the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion peppers I grow.) Fear not! I’m referring to simple black pepper.
The science behind turmeric according to Shrikant Mishra and Kalpana Palanivelu as stated in the Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology. Curcumin, a compound found in turmeric, is an Indian herb that has been used in various types of treatments for dementia and traumatic brain injury. Curcumin also has a potential role in the prevention and treatment of AD. Curcumin as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and lipophilic action improves the cognitive functions in patients with AD. A growing body of evidence indicates that oxidative stress, free radicals, beta amyloid, cerebral deregulation caused by bio-metal toxicity and abnormal inflammatory reactions contribute to the key event in Alzheimer's disease pathology. Due to various effects of curcumin, such as decreased Beta-amyloid plaques, delayed degradation of neurons, metal-chelation, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and decreased microglia formation, the overall memory in patients with AD has improved.
And in the article, Turmeric Produces “Remarkable” Recovery in Alzheimer’s Patients, 26 million people throughout the world suffer from AD according to a 2006 study, and by 2050, 1 in 85 persons worldwide will be afflicted with the disease. Talk about walking zombies!
Okay, so we now know the benefits of curcumin (turmeric) but how does black pepper help? Well, unfortunately, by ingesting turmeric alone not much reaches the bloodstream and even less gets past the blood-brain barrier, so in comes piperine a compound found in black pepper that helps increase absorbability of curcumin. 
So, what is the bottom-line? Curcumin is an anti-inflammatory. AD begins as an inflammatory process in the brain. Piperine helps curcumin absorb into the body. What I do is use a shaker bottle that has been made into of equal parts of turmeric and pepper and add it to my meals, you know, a sprinkle here and a sprinkle there. I also purchased clear gel capsules that I put the blend of turmeric and pepper into and take two of these capsules daily. I’ve also heard of people using ½ teaspoon of turmeric and ½ teaspoon of black pepper daily in a drink or smoothie. The key is to take turmeric and pepper daily.
As you all know, I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV, nor do I have any medical credentials whatsoever, so this information is not meant to be used to prevent, diagnosis, treat, or cure a disease; rather, it is to inform you and encourage you to do your own research into Alzheimer's Disease and these powerful – natural – spices …that most of us already have in our kitchen!
Just sayin’.
If you liked this ... then you will love my book, "Emergency/Survival Hygiene: A Prepper "Cookbook" for Survival Personal Hygiene Products", "What Could Possibly Go Wrong??? How to Go From Completely Clueless to Totally Prepared" and my NEW Book "Puzzling Over Preparedness - Survivor Jane's Prepper Word Search Puzzles"
If you have any questions, or would like to see a specific article addressing survival preparedness for women on Survivor Jane website click here > editorial@survivorjane.com)
For Sponsorship/Advertising Contact Information: sponsors@survivorjane.com
Follow me on Twitter @SurvivorJane and use the hashtag #PrepperTalk - Building the Largest Prepper Community One Social Media at a Time!