Scientists have just stumbled upon what could be a major finding in the battle against Alzheimer’s, depression, and other debilitating brain diseases. A new paper determined that eating a daily helping of turmeric, and specifically of curcumin which is found in turmeric, may help boost one’s memory and uplift one’s mood.

Curcumin has long fascinated scientists for its ability to act as an antioxidant and as an anti-inflammatory agent. In fact, they believe that curcumin could be responsible for lower rates of Alzheimer’s in India, where they consume the substance regularly.

It is unclear curcumin’s exact effect on the brain, although the fact that it is an anti-inflammatory agent could explain why it helps with Alzheimer’s, which is believed to be caused at least in part by inflammation. The study, involving 40 adults with memory problems between 50 and 90 years of age, showed that those who took curcumin rather than the placebo had better memory and a slightly better mood.

“Lovers of Indian food, give yourselves a second helping: Daily consumption of a certain form of curcumin — the substance that gives Indian curry its bright color — improved memory and mood in people with mild, age-related memory loss, according to the results of a study conducted by UCLA researchers,” reads a statement from the university. “The research, published online Jan. 19 in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, examined the effects of an easily absorbed curcumin supplement on memory performance in people without dementia, as well as curcumin’s potential impact on the microscopic plaques and tangles in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease.”