Curcumin, my top favorite medicinal plant has been clinically studied numerous times and found to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.  I just ran across a study from 2012 that indicated a higher vitamin D dietary level was associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease among older women.  Hypovitaminosis D is common among older adults affecting up to 90% of the elderly population. This is crucial in that results of epidemiological studies suggest the Hypovitaminosis D is associated with cognitive function and Alzheimer’s disease.

Vitamin D is a steroid hormone and not a vitamin that exhibits neurosteroid actions in the central nervous system, and it has been proposed that the chronic deficit of vitamin D neurotrophic anti-inflammatory as well as antioxidant properties may partially explain neuronal degeneration and Alzheimer’s disease.

Several other studies have shown sage essential oil and oil of rosemary were effective as an inhibitor of cholinesterase.  Cholinesterase, an enzyme that typically breaks down acetylcholine, one of our essential brain neurotransmitters.  A possible combination of curcumin, vitamin D, oil of sage and rosemary could be possibly more effective than drugs in reducing the effects of Alzheimer’s disease and the prevention of this disease.  I believe the only drug approved currently is Aricept which is also based on its ability to inhibit cholinesterase.  For the most part, Aricept has not been very effective or successful.