Amyloid beta proteins are the plaques that develop in the brain and believed to be the cause of Alzheimer's disease.

Now, researchers have been able to isolate bisdemethoxycurcumin, the active ingredient of curcuminoids - a natural substance found in turmeric root - that may help boost the immune system in clearing amyloid beta.

The study provides more insight into the role of the immune system in Alzheimer's disease and points to a new treatment approach. Researchers say that it may be possible to test a patient's immune response with a blood sample in order to individualize treatment.

The genes involved in the process, called MGAT III and Toll-like receptors, are also responsible for a number of other key functions in the immune system.

The results also suggest a new drug development approach for the disease that differs from the amyloid-beta vaccine. The new approach relies on the innate immune system, which is present at birth rather than on antibodies produced by B cells, which is a later developed part of the active immune system.

Study findings appear in the July 16 early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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