Curcumin: From Folk Medicine to a Possible Miracle Cure for Alzheimer's

Curcumin: Adapting an Indian Ayurvedic Remedy to Fight Alzheimer’s

Evelyn Smith

M.S. in Library Science, University of North Texas (2012)

Addendum January 16, 2016

India's low rate of dementia among the elderly (approximately one percent) vouches for curcumin’s effectiveness as an anti-inflammatory cure for dementia, even though correlation is not causation.  But until quite recently, short of a lifetime of eating curry,  unadulterated curcumin’s low absorption rate coupled with its quick elimination from the body relegated it to a folk remedy that might delay or prevent dementia if one regularly imbibes enough of it.  Even so, medical research is just beginning to tweak this saffron-colored spice into a super drug.  But while the Western public is waiting, families can incorporate Indian curried dishes into their diet and take supplements along with other substances like piperin, fish oil and Vitamin D3 that boost curcumin's efficacy.

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Scholarly Research on Curcumin’s Effect on Alzheimer’s

Neurological research has turned to folk medicine to find a natural herb, curcumin from the turmeric plant, which helps combat Alzheimer’s primarily based on circumstantial evidence that the elderly in India don’t suffer from Alzheimer’s like they do elsewhere. After all, Indian researchers have proven that curcumin is a time-tested antioxidant, anti-inflammatory nutrient.

Moreover, research elsewhere, but mostly in the United States, has shown that curcumin successfully untangles the beta-amyloid plaques of mice suffering from the rodent equivalent of Alzheimer’s.   Nevertheless, the widespread acceptance—and pharmaceutical marketing—of curcumin has one major obstacle:  In humans, in its natural state, the herb doesn’t pass the blood brain barrier easily primarily because the body rids itself of curcumin so rapidly.  Consequently, neurologists have started working on a viable delivery method:

• Researchers are devising ways to grind curcumin to the molecular level (Hagl, 2015, August), or as a Vanderbilt University public relations article hypes, even turning it into an aerosol spray (Jumbo, 2014, January 8).

• In the last five years, neuro-chemists have synthesized curcumin derivatives, like J147 NS T-006, that past the blood brain barrier (Prior, 2013; Chen, 2015).

For now, researchers recommend regularly incorporating curcumin with other herbs and nutrients like pepper (Brodino, 2014), rosemary (Ono, 2004), flavonoids and Omega 3 fatty fish (Vivar, 2015), or Vitamin D3 (Masourni, 2009) into meals along with elements of what nutritionists refer to as a Mediterranean diet while also including  at least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise five days a week, including self-paced walking, as part of an Alzheimer’s prevention program (University of Maryland, 2015, para. 25). 

See:   

Exercise.   (2015).  University of Maryland Medical Center.  Retrieved from http://umm.edu/health/medical/reports/articles/exercise

The University of Maryland helps health-conscious readers get the most out of exercise as they seek to prevent or delay numerous chronic conditions.

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Aggarwal, B. B., Sundarum, C., and Malani, N., et al.  (2007). Curcumin: The Indian solid gold. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. 595, 1-75. [Abstract only].  Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17569205

Curcumin displays antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-fungal, and anticancer properties, and thus has the potential to treat diabetes, allergies, arthritis, and Alzheimer’s as well as cancer.  It works similarly to tumor necrosis factor blockers, human epidermal growth factor receptor blockers, and HER2 blockers.

Balasubramanian, K. (2006, May 17). Molecular orbital basis for yellow curry spice curcumin’s prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.  Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry. 54(10), 3512-20. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19127718

Turmeric penetrates the blood-brain barrier and binds to beta-amyloid plaque because of the East Indian root plant's electronic and structural features.

Brondino, Natascia, Re, Simona, and Boldini, Annalisa. (2014, January 22).  Curcumin as a therapeutic agent in dementia:  A minisystematic review of human studies. Scientific World Journal.  doi: 10.1155/2014/174282. [Full article].  Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3919104/

Short-term curcumin use appears to be safe, but as of yet, not enough evidence exists to recommend treating dementia patients with curcumin in its present form because of its low bioavailability (Abstract).

Introduction:  Beginning in 2001, after noticing the discrepancy between the incidence of Alzheimer’s in the United States and India, numerous in vitro and vivo studies have demonstrated the neuro-protective and antioxidant properties of curcumin.  For example, orally-administered, low doses of curcumin reduce inflammation and oxidation stress in the brains of mice evidencing the healing effects of curcumin (Brondino, 2014, January 22, para. 3).  Furthermore, cancer patients have noted no toxicity after taking 500 to 8,000 milligrams of curcumin daily.  However, not much documented evidence exists that proved the efficacy of using curcumin in the treatment of dementia patients (Brondino, 2014, January 22, para. 4).

Results:  Only 31 of 984 citations available via Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews contain full-text examination of curcumin’s usefulness as a treatment for Alzheimer’s.  Of these, only three studies fulfill inclusion criteria (Brondino, 2014, January 22, para. 5-6).

• Baum, et al (2008) administered a randomized double-blind placebo study that enrolled 34 Alzheimer’s patients daily, who took either two doses of curcumin (one gram a day or four grams a day) or a placebo either in powder or capsule form for three months. Using the Mini-Mental State Examination, researchers didn’t find any “significant” differences between those patients given curcumin and those taking a placebo.

• Ringman and colleagues (2012) gave 36 dementia patients either two grams or four grams a day of curcumin C3 complex in two divided doses or a placebo originally for 24 weeks--later extending the trial for 48 weeks. Researchers again didn’t see any significant difference in intelligence test scores between the two groups.

• Hishikawa, et al. (2012) treated three Alzheimer’s patients with 100 milligrams a day of curcumin, which brought about a decrease in agitation, irritability and anxiety after twelve weeks of therapy.

(Brondino, 2014, January 22, para. 9)

Discussion: Curcumin exhibits poor oral bio-availability because the body only slowly absorbs it while rapidly metabolizing it, so researchers are experimenting with combining it with piperin, a substance found in black pepper, or else turning it into nanoparticles, thus increasing its effectiveness Brondino, 2014, January 22, para. 11).

Calabrese, V, Butterfield, D. A., and Stella A. M. (2003, December).  Nutritional antioxidants and the heme oxygenase pathway of stress tolerance: Novel targets for neuroprotection in Alzheimer's disease. The Italian Journal of Biochemistry. 52(4), 177-81. [Abstract only].  Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15141484

Recent research has concentrated on identifying dietary compounds that can inhibit the chronic neuron inflammation in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.  Curcumin, an antioxidant derived from the curry spice turmeric, has evolved as an alternative nutritional approach for reducing such oxidative stress.  Thus, curcumin and its derivatives along with Vitamin E might block the development of Alzheimer’s.

Chen, H.Y, Ui, D. P., and Tan, G. L. (2015, August).  A potent multi-functional neuroprotective derivative of tetramethylpyreine.  Journal of Molecular Neuroscience: MN. 56(4), 977-87. doi: 10.1007/s12031-015-0566-x. [Abstract only].  Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25982925

Chen and fellow researchers have designed and synthesize T-006, a compound of two neuro-protective chemicals--tetramethylpyrazine and J147.  T-006 in very low concentrations retrieves iodoacetic, acid-induced neuronal loss, prevents oxidative stress, and reduces toxicity, ameliorating memory impairment in transgenic mice.

Cole, G. M., Lim, G. P., and Yang, F.  (2005, December 26).  Prevention of Alzheimer’s disease:  Omega-3 fatty acid and phenotic anti-oxidant interventions.  Neurobiology of Aging.  Supp. 1, 33-6. [Abstract only].  Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16266772

While non-steroid, anti-inflammatory drugs, like Ibuprofen, reduce amyloid plaque accumulation, they suppress few inflammatory markers and don’t reduce oxidative damage.  Alternative nutrients like curcumin, found in Indian curries, and Omega-3 fatty acid, found in tuna, salmon, sardines, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) , also found in fatty fish, limit amyloid plaque, oxidative damage, and synaptic and degenerative decline in mice.

Garcia-Alloza, Borrelli, L. A., and Rozkaine, A.  (2007, August).  Curcumin labels amyloid pathology in vivo, disrupts existing plaques, and partially restores distorted neurites in an Alzheimer mouse model.  Journal of Neurochemistry. 102(4), 1095-104.  Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17472706

Curcumin, “a small fluorescent compound that binds to amyloid deposits”, “represents a promising approach for preventing of treating AD”.  Treating mice with curcumin for seven days with curcumin “clears and reduces existing plaques” while also reversing structural changes in the abnormal curative and size of dendrites, the nerve cells that transmit information to neighboring neurons.

Hagl, S., Kocher, A., Schiborr, C., et al. (2015, August 5).  Curcumin micelles improve mitochondrial function in neuronal PC12 cells and brains of NMRI mice- impact on bioavailability. pii: S0197-0186(15)30028-0. [e-pub ahead of print].  Neurochemistry International.  doi: 10.1016/j.neuint.2015.07.026. [Abstract only].  Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26254982

Curcumin’s low absorption rate as well as its quick elimination from the body poses problems for its use as a therapeutic agency; however, its bioavailability is improved when it is simultaneously administered with secondary plant compounds, reduced to micro- or nano-meters in size, and formed into micelles.  Accordingly, German researchers have determined that curcumin miscelles kept isolated brain mitochondria in mice from swelling better than native curcumin.

Hatcher, H., Planalp, R., and Cho, J., et al.  (2008, June). Curcumin: from ancient medicine to current clinical trials.  Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences.  65(110), 1631-52.  doi: 10.1007/s00018-008-7452-4. [Abstract only].  Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18324353

Curcumin, an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and chemotherapeutic herbal remedy, known for its ability to influence multiple signaling pathways, acts as a free radical scavenger and hydrogen donor.  Non-toxic, it is currently in human clinical trials for multiple conditions including multiple myeloma, pancreatic and colon cancer and Alzheimer’s.

Hishikawa, Nozomi, Takohashi, Yoriko, Amakusa, Yoshiobu, et al.  (2012, Oct.-Dec.). Effects of turmeric on Alzheimer’s disease with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia.  AYU. 33(4), 499-504. doi:  10.4103/0974-8520.110524. [Full text].  Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3665200/

AYU documents how researchers treated on a very limited basis the behavioral and psychological symptoms of Alzheimers’ (irritability, agitation, anxiety, apathy, urinary incontinence, and wandering) with turmeric powder capsules:  Three patients, after taking 100 milligrams of curcumin daily, “decreased significantly” the total score on their Neuro-Psychiatry Inventory brief questionnaire while one patient’s Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) went up five points (Hishikawa, 2012, Oct-Dec., Abstract).

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Lim, G. P., Chu, T., and Yang, F., et al.  (2001, November).  The curry spice curcumin reduces oxidative damage and amyloid pathology in an Alzheimer transgenic mouse. The Journal of Neuroscience.  21(21), 8370-7.  [Full text article].  Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11606625

While non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can suppress the inflammation and beta-amyloid plaques of Alzheimer’s in mice, their chronic and excessive use results in gastrointestinal, liver, and renal toxicity.  A safe alternative, however,  to taking high doses of NSAID is curcumin, an Indian food additive and herbal medicine that is also a “potent polyphenoic antioxidant”.  Researchers tested a low dose (160 ppm.) and high dose of dietary curcumin (5,000 ppm.) on mice.   Both the low and high does lowered oxidized proteins and interleukin-1 beta, an elevated, pro-inflammatory cytokine.  A low-dosage level of curcumin “significantly reduced” beta-amyloid plaque by 43 to 50 percent, although low dosage levels didn’t reduce its amyloid precursor in the membrane fraction.

Masoumi, A., Goldenson, B., & Ghirmal, S, et al.  (2009).  1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 interacts with curcuminoids to stimulate amyloid-beta clearance by macrophages of Alzheimer's disease patients.  Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease: JAD. 17(3), 703-17.  doi: 10.3233/JAD-2009-1080. [Abstract only].  Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19433889

Researchers studied how 1 alpha, 25(OH)2 and Vitamin D3 in combination with curcuminoids stimulate the immune process of  macrophages, or the  white blood cells that envelop and digest cellular debris while protecting against apoptosis (also known as cell death). Type I macrophages combined treatment with Vitamin D3 and curcumin enhances the herb's potency, but in Type II macrophages, Vitamin D3 treatment is effective alone.

Mecocci, Patrizia and Polidori, Maria Christina.  (2012, May). Antioxidant clinical trials in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.  Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) Molecular Basis of Disease. 1822(5), 631-638. [Full-text].  Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925443911002298

2.4--Curcumin: A limited number of trials assessing curcumin’s possible beneficial effects on dementia patients have shown no “significant” changes in cognitive performance or plasma CSF markers.

Mishra, Shrikant and Palanivelu, Kalpana. (2008, Jan.-Mar.).  The effects of curcumin (turmeric) on Alzheimer’s disease:  An overview.  Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology.  doi:  10.4103/0972-2327.40220. [Full text].  Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2781139/

Curcumin as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory drug that also acts as a lipophilic substance that can dissolve beta-amyloid plaque has the potential to prevent and treat Alzheimer’s disease caused by bio-metal toxicity and abnormal inflammatory reactions.  [If made bioavailable], curcumin can not only decrease beta-amyloid plaques, but it can delay the degradation of brain neurons (Mishra, 2008, Jan.-Mar., Abstract).

Highlights:

• Absorption appears to be better when taken with food (Mishra, 2008, Jan.-25, para. 22).

• Curcumin interacts with blood thinners, NSAIDS, and respiring.  Supplementing curcumin with 20 milligrams of piperine (an extract of black pepper) increases its absorption 2,000 percent (Mishra, 2008, Jan.-Mar., para. 25).

Ono, K., Hasegawa, K., and Naiki, H., et al. (2004, March).  Curcumin has potent anti-amyloidogenic effects for Alzheimer's beta-amyloid fibrils in vitro.  Journal of Neuroscience Research. 75(6), 742-50. [Abstract only].  Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14994335

Ono and colleagues have previously reported that nordihydroguiaretic acid, an antioxidant compound from the creosote bush, and wine-related polyphenols inhibit the formation of beta-amyloid plaque in vitro.  Upon examining the effects of curcumin and rosmarinic acid, an antioxidant synthesized from rosemary [a herb that Shakespeare equated with “remembrance”],  researchers discovered that curcumin inhibited their expansion as well as destabilizing amyloid plaque.

• Bottom Line:  Health-conscious cooks should include curry and other spices like rosemary and pepper in their dishes, and adults should also drink a glass of red wine with dinner. But if middle-aged and older adults really are serious about decreasing their risk of Alzheimer's, they should start taking a curcumin supplement daily along with fish oil.  Taking curcumin with fish oil will help the body absorb and retain enough curcumin, for at least some of it to cross the blood-brain barrier.

Prior, M., Darqusch, R. Ehren, J. L., et al.  (2013, May 14).  The neurotrophic compound J147 reverses cognitive impairment in aged Alzheimer’s disease mice.  Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy.  5(4), 25. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23673233

• Introduction:  A “better approach” for pre-clinical drug screening is necessary than the usual procedure of testing compounds before the pathology is present.

• Methods:  Researchers treated mice at a stage when Alzheimer’s was already well-advanced whereupon researchers gave 20-month-old mice the orally active, memory-enhancing, neutrophic molecule J147.

• Results:  J147 has the ability to remediate the cognitive deficits of late-stage Alzheimer’s.  A comparison of J147 and donepezil (Aricept) showed that both were comparable when improving short-term memory loss, but J147 was superior at retrieving spatial memory, and a combination of the two drugs worked best on contextual and cued memory.

• Conclusion:  J147 is a potent, orally-active compound proven safe in animal studies.

Chen, H.Y, Ui, D. P., and Tan, G. L. (2015, August).  A potent multi-functional neuroprotective derivative of tetramethylpyreine.  Journal of Molecular Meuroscience: MN. 56(4), 977-87. doi: 10.1007/s12031-015-0566-x. [Abstract only].  Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25982925

Chen and fellow researchers have designed and synthesize T-006, a compound of two neuroprotective chemicals--tetramethylpyrazine and J147.  T-006 in very low concentrations retrieves iodoacetic, acid-induced neuronal loss, prevents oxidative stress, and reduces toxicity, ameliorating memory impairment in transgenic mice.

Ringman, John M., Frautschy, Sally A., and Cole, Gregory M. (2005, April).  A potential role of the curry spice curcumin in Alzheimer’s disease.  Current Alzheimer’s Research.  2(2), 131-136.  [Full-text].  Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1702408/

“Substantial” vitro data indicates that curcumin displays “antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-amyloid” properties. Moreover, animal models indicate that curcumin has the ability to decrease beta-amyloid plaque.  Even so, evidence validating curcumin’s bioavailability, safety, and tolerability for Alzheimer’s patients (as yet) isn’t forthcoming.

Ringman, J. M., Frautschy, S. A., and Teng, E., et al. (2012, October 29). Oral curcumin for Alzheimer's disease: tolerability and efficacy in a 24-week randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study.  Alzheimers Research & Therapy. 4(5), 43. doi: 10.1186/alzrt146. [Abstract only].  Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23107780

After performing a 24-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial on curcumin C3 complex that researchers eventually extended to 48 weeks, they found no significant differences between treatment groups of Alzheimer’s patients in clinical or biomarkers.

Vivar, Carmen. (2015, June 10). Adult hippocampal neurogenesis, aging and neurodegenerative diseases: Possible strategies to prevent cognitive impairment. Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry. [Abstract only; E-pub ahead of print].  Researchgate.net.   Retrieved from http://www.researchgate.net/publication/278044993_Adult_hippocampal_neurogenesis_aging_and_neurodegenerative_diseases_Possible_strategies_to_prevent_cognitive_impairment

The adult brain in mammals generates neurons in the dentate gyrus, the hippocampus, and the sub-ventricular zone of the lateral ventricle throughout life, although the DG’s neurogenic capacity declines with age.  Strategies to enhance neurogenesis and combat age-related cognitive deficits include physical exercise and the intake of omega-3 fatty acids, curcumin, and flavonoids, such as blueberries, banana, apples, wine, beer, dark chocolate, broccoli, onions, spinach, beans, and tomatoes.

Yang, F., Lim, G. P., Begum, A. N., et al.  (2005, February).  Curcumin inhibits formation of amyloid beta oligomers and fibrils, binds plaques, and reduces amyloid in vivo.  The Journal of Biological Chemistry.  280(7), 5892-901.  [Full text].  Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15590663

Curcumin’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions can suppress the damage of oxidation, inflammation, and amyloid accumulation caused by Alzheimer’s. Data reveals that in vivo curcumin is better at inhibiting the accretion of amyloid plaque than ibuprofen and naproxen without causing their toxic effects.  Curcumin injected peripherally into aged mice crossed the brain barrier and bound plaques, and when researchers fed low-dosage levels of curcumin to aged mice with “advanced” amyloid buildup, it reduced amyloid levels.

Yanagisawa, D., Ibrahim, N. F., and Morikawa, S., et al. (2015, January).  Curcumin derivative with the substitution at C-4 position, but not curcumin, is effective against amyloid pathology in APP/PS1 mice. Neurobiology of Aging. 36(1), 201-10. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2014.07.041. [Abstract only]. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0197458014005107

A pathological change in amyloid β (Aβ), or the amyloid cascade hypothesis, is the latest educated guess as to what causes Alzheimer’s.  Thus, reducing abnormal Aβ clumping has become a potential therapeutic target of neurological researchers, and curcumin, a polyphenol that comes from the curry spice turmeric, has caught their attention. In this study, researchers observed the effects of two curcumin derivatives, FMeC1 and FMeC2, by feeding mice a chow diet of either curcumin, FMeC1 or FMeC2, or a controlled [placebo] diet.  Mice fed FMeC1 for six months showed a reduction in insoluble Aβ deposits and glial cell activity as well as a reduction in cognitive “deficits” compared with those mice on a control diet or ingesting curcumin or FMeC2. Both curcumin and FMeC1 decreased the growth of amyloid beta plaque tangles, but only FMeC1 significantly reduced amyloid plaque cell toxicity.

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Researchers have also successfully injected curcumin compounds into the blood stream of mice:

Zhang, L., Fang, Y., and Xu, Y., et al.  (2015, June 26).  Curcumin improves Amyloid β-Peptide (1-42) induced spatial memory deficits through BDNF-ERK signaling pathway. PLoS One. 10(6): e0131525. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131525.  [Full article].  Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26114940

Examining the working memory and spatial reference memory in rats that received a ventricular injection of amyloid--β1-42 (Aβ1-42) for seven consecutive days once a day, researchers determined that curcumin treatments improved their cognitive function, increased BDNF levels and elevated levels of phosphorylated ERK in the hippocampus.  They therefore concluded that chronic injections of curcumin ameliorated Alzheimer’s cognitive loss.

Then again, including curcumin in one’s diet in the hopes of preventing Alzheimer’s or eventually popping a pill derived from synthesized curcumin compounds isn’t the only way to ward off dementia since a Mediterranean diet needs to be combined with regular aerobic exercise.   A possible added incentive for taking a curcumin supplement, however, comes from experimental evidence that curcumin’s anti-inflammatory nature promotes weight loss.

Bradford, P. G.  (2013, Jan-Feb) Curcumin and obesity.  Biofactors. 39(1), 78-87. doi: 10.1002/biof.1074.  [Abstract only].  Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23339049

Curcumin suppresses chronic inflammation by interacting with white adipose tissue to inhibit macrophage infiltration, which reduces obesity.

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News Stories & Health Blogs Assess Curcumin Effectiveness as an Alzheimer’s Prophylactic

Curcumin in curry is the most common form of curcumin most people encounter.

Longvida, a derivative of curcumin that improves short-term memory for three hours after it is taken, is now available to consumers (2015, Alzheimer’s Drug, Nibber, 2013).  However, the herb may work best when it is part of an overall diet and exercise program.


A quick Web search reveals that consumers can purchase Longvida on numerous Websites, including Amazon.com, although it might not be available at local health food stores.   Make sure to take the "general purpose" curcumin instead of the curcumin that targets different cancers if taking curcumin to help ward off Alzheimer's.  Some curcumin supplement capsules available Online also combine it with piperin, which is derived from black pepper, for better bioavailability.  On some discussion boards, users also mention taking curcumin and fish oil supplements together since this also increases its strength(*See warning below).

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Addendum

January 16 2016

Although this Newsmax Health e-mail is meant to promote the purchase of certain curcumin supplements, it also links general inflammation in the body with the beta-amyloid plaque that forms in the brain of Alzheimer's patients. 

Corn, Joshua. (2016). Tumeric: Doctors say this spice is a brain health miracle. Newsmax Health. Retrieved from https://us-mg5.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.partner=sbc&.rand=a0gg8bsmh2a97

Curcumin, an antioxidant compound found in the turmeric plant and the same yellow spice found in curry powder, is one of the “most powerful natural brain protecting substances on the planet” (Corn,
2016, para. 5-6). India, the nation that has the highest per capita consumption of turmeric, also has the lowest incidence of dementia world wide (Corn, 2016, para. 6).

Ordinarily, when malformed proteins form in the brain, the immune systems sends out cells, known as macrophages, to destroy them, but when they fail to do so, detective protein accumulate, and cognitive decline follows. Curcumin, however, encourages the immune system to send macrophages to the brain as documented by a study that indicated that individuals taking curcumin had significantly higher levels of dissolved abnormal proteins in their blood when compared with a control group because curcumin has the ability to pass into the brain, binding beta-amyloid plaques and helping in their breakdown (Corn, 2016, para. 7-8).

Evidence is also increasingly suggesting that low-grade inflammation is the root cause of cognitive decline; however, most individuals don't do anything to combat it until its initial arthritic symptoms appear whereupon their doctor is most likely to prescribe drugs that offer only short-term benefits instead of helping rid the body of inflammation (Corn, 2016, para. 9).

Nevertheless, if chronic inflammation is left unchecked, it can damage the body in multiple ways, including cognitive decline. This is where curcumin comes to the rescue since the chemical Nf-kappa beta found in curcumin is a natural anti-inflammatory drug, easing joint pain as well as protecting the brain and promoting cardiovascular health (Corn, 2016, para. 10-11).

Consumers should consider three major factors when choosing a curcumin supplement:

1. Standardization and dose: All curcumin supplement should contain all three active ingredients of turmeric—curcumin demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin-- and be standardized to at least 75 percent. The minimum recommended dosage should be 1,000 milligrams daily.
2. Absorption: An extract of black pepper enhances the absorption of curcumin by 2,000 percent;
3. Price: Don't pay more than $30 for a one month's supply of curcumin.

(Corn, 2016 para. 12-14).

8 Incredible Health benefits of turmeric:

1. Boosts cognitive function;
2. Supports joint and muscle health;
3. Fights body-wide inflammation;
4. Boosts detoxification;
5. Supports cardiovascular function;
6. Promotes healthy mood balance;
7. Promotes youthful radiant skin;
8. Supports natural weight loss. 

Curcumin. (2015). Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation.  Retrieved from http://www.alzdiscovery.org/cognitive-vitality/report/curcumin

• Can it prevent dementia?  Observational studies suggest that those Indians who regularly ingest curcumin in the form of curry are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s (Curcumin, 2015, para. 6).

• Can it benefit someone with dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment? The only published trials that have tested curcumin on dementia patients have failed to show any improvement because of its low bioavailability in human subjects.  However, Longvida, a form of curcumin with better bioavailability, improves short-term memory for three hours after its consumption (Curcumin, 2015, para. 8-10).

Christensen, Stephen. (2015, July 13).  Turmeric & Alzheimer’s prevention. Livestrong.com. Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/445803-turmeric-alzheimers-prevention/

As of yet, no pharmaceutical or alternative medical treatment prevents or cures Alzheimer’s, even though some drugs slow its downward spiral in 25 to 30 percent of patients.  Hence, researchers are interested in fine-tuning alternative treatments like turmeric, or curcumin (Christensen, 2015, July 13, para. 1).

• Cause:  Medical science doesn’t know the exact cause of Alzheimer’s, but research has discovered that a cascade of physiological events triggers inflammatory and oxidative responses that disrupt neuron function in Alzheimer’s patients (Christensen, 2015, July 13, para. 2).

• Turmeric: Curcumin, the yellowish-orange pigment of the turmeric root, has anti-inflammatory, anti-amyloid, and antioxidant properties (Christensen, 2015, July 13, para. 3).

• Curcumin and Amyloid:  Curcumin inhibits the forming of neuro-fibrillary, beta-amyloid protein tangles (Christensen, 2015, July 13, para. 4)

• Considerations: Because the intestine doesn’t absorb curcumin rapidly enough, and it rapidly disappears from the bloodstream, no form of curcumin cures or prevent Alzheimer’s--yet.  However, modifying curcumin improves its absorption.  No medical authority has determined the appropriate dosage levels for taking curcumin  to prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s, although recommendations do exist for treating cancers (Christensen, 2015, July 13, para. 5).

Curry spice may fight Alzheimer’s disease. (2005, January 5).  Alzheimer’s Disease  Health Center.  WebMD Health News.  Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20050105/curry-spice-may-fight-alzheimers-disease

UCLA researchers have demonstrated that curcumin “slows . . . and even destroys” accumulated beta-amyloid plaque deposits in mice brains (Curry spice, 2005, January 5, para. 2-3).   Long a staple of traditional Indian medicine,  curcumin's powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties hint that it might effectively fight Alzheimer’s, cancer, and heart disease.  Indeed, cancer patients have tolerated as much as 2,000 to 8,000 milligrams of curcumin daily without side effects (Curry spice, 2005, January 5, para. 4-5).  Experiments with aged-mice have shown that curcumin reduced beta-amyloid plaque deposits; moreover, it reduced plaque better than over-the-counter anti-inflammatory painkillers naproxen and ibuprofen did (Curry spice, 2005, January 5, para. 6-9). 

Curry derivative J147 beats Aricept for Alzheimers. (2013, May 19).  Alzheimer’s and Dementia Weekly.  Retrieved from http://www.alzheimersweekly.com/2013/05/curry-derivative-j147-beats-aricept-for.html

Developed at the Salk Institute for Biological studies, J147 reverses memory loss and slows Alzheimer’s in elderly ice following long-term treatment (Curry derivative, 2015, May 19, para. 2-3). Since curcumin degrades rapidly, Salk Cellular Neurobiological Laboratory researchers, Margaret Prior and David Schubert, have created a synthetic version of curcumin, first testing it by using live neurons grown in lab dishes to determine whether it protected brain cells from pathologies with aging.   Since J147 was safe and effective when administered to their mice test subjects, they plan to proceed to clinical trials (Curry derivative, 2013, May 19, para. 14).  Tested on 20-month old genetically engineered mice, J147 reversed severe memory loss, reduced soluble amyloid tangles, and increased neurotrophic factors necessary for memory after three months of treatment (Curry derivative, 2013, May 19, para. 15).  Mice given J147 performed just as well or better on memory tests  as mice given Aricept (donepezil), J147 (Curry derivative, 2013, May 19, para. 16).

Reference Cited:

Prior, M., Darqusch, R. Ehren, J. L., et al.  (2013, May 14).  The neurotrophic compound J147 reverses cognitive impairment in aged Alzheimer’s disease mice.  Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy.  5 (4), 25. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23673233

• Introduction:  A “better approach” for pre-clinical drug screening is necessary than the usual procedure of testing compounds before the pathology is present.

• Methods:  Researchers treated mice at a stage when Alzheimer’s was already well advanced whereupon researchers gave 20-month mice the orally active, memory-enhancing, neutrophic molecule J147.

• Results:  J147 has the ability to remediate the cognitive deficits of late-stage Alzheimer’s.  A comparison of J147 and donepezil showed that J147 and donepezil were comparable when improving short-term memory loss, but J147 was superior at retrieving spatial memory, and a combination of the two drugs worked best on contextual and cued memory.

• Conclusion:  J147 is a potent, orally-active compound proven safe in animal studies.

Leonard, Cindie. (2009, September 30).  Curcumin and Vitamin D3 may dissolve plaques of Alzheimer’s disease.  Natural News. Retrieved form http://www.naturalnews.com/027130_disease_Alzheimers_vitamin_D3.html

After analyzing blood samples of Alzheimer’s patients and measuring the effects of regularly ingesting curcumin as well as taking Vitamin D3 supplements, researchers affiliated with the University of California, Los Angeles, and University of California, Riverside, as well as the Human BioMolecular Research Institute hypothesize that a combination of Vitamin D3 and curcumin might possibly prevent—or even reverse—the growth of beta-amyloid plaque found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients (Leonard, 2009, September 30, para. 1-2).

By way of contrast, current pharmaceuticals used to treat Alzheimer’s (Aricept, Reminyl, Exelon, and Namenda) not only have bothersome side effects, but they also only slow Alzheimer’s progression rather than reverse it (Leonard, 2009, September 30, para. 4).

Antidotal evidence of curcumin’s ability to reverse the build-up of beta-amyloid plaque comes from India where only one percent of the population over 65 suffers from Alzheimer’s compared with the ten percent diagnosed with the symptoms of Alzheimer’s in the United States.  Apparently, Vitamin D3 boosts curcumin’s healing properties (Leonard, 2009, September 30, para. 5 & 6).

Reference Cited:

Masoumi, A., Goldenson, B., & Ghirmal, S, et al.  (2009). 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 interacts with curcuminoids to stimulate amyloid-beta clearance by macrophages of Alzheimer's disease patients.  Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease: JAD. 17(3), 703-17.  doi: 10.3233/JAD-2009-1080. [Abstract only].  Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19433889

Researchers studied how 1 alpha, 25 (OH)2 and vitamin D3 in combination with curcuminoids stimulate the immune process of  macrophages, or the white blood cells that envelop and digest cellular debris while protecting against apoptosis (or cell death). Type I macrophages combined treatment with Vitamin D3 and curcumin has additive effects, but in Type II macrophages, Vitamin D3 treatment is effective alone. 

Jumbo-Lucioni, Patricia.  (2015, January 8).  Curcumin’s ability to fight Alzheimer’s studied.  Vanderbilt University Research.  Retrieved from http://news.vanderbilt.edu/2015/01/curcumin%E2%80%99s-ability-to-fight-alzheimer-studied/

Wellington Phan and colleagues at Shiga University of Medical Science in Otsu, Japan, has developed an atomizer to deliver a curcumin aerosol, so molecular-sized curcumin particles can be breathed in, easily crossing the blood-brain barrier.

Mercola, Joseph. (2011, July 29). Can Vitamin D3 in combination with turmeric spice reverse Alzheimer’s disease?  Mercola.com. Retrieved from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/07/29/can-vitamin-d3-in-combination-with-this-spice-reverse-alzheimers-disease-progression.aspx

To improve the immune system of Alzheimer’s patients, researchers are combining Vitamin D3 with curcumin (Mercola, 2011, July 29, para. 2-3).

Exercise may also fight Alzheimer’s by increasing the levels of protein PGC-1 alpha, a brain molecule that may protect against Alzheimer’s as well as Type 2 diabetes.  Reason:  Exercise raises the level of PCC-1 alpha, and brain autopsies of Alzheimer’s patients indicate that Alzheimer’s patients’ brains contain less PGC-1 alpha protein than normal brains do (Mercola, 2011, July 29, para. 8). Thus, those middle-aged and older adults wishes to prevent or delay Alzheimer's should not only focus on diet, but they should also use aerobic exercise to keep their minds sharp.

Dr. Mercola’s Comments:

Although both Vitamin D and curcumin independently dissolve amyloid plaque, if combined together, they might pack more of a punch.  Curcumin prevents the spread of the amyloid plaque that leads to the decay of the wiring of brain cells, and it is five to eight times stronger antioxidant than Vitamins C and E since it inserts itself in the cell membranes to untangle them (Mercola, 2011, July 29, para. 1—11).

The Vitamin D Connection:

Curcumin has potent anti-inflammatory properties, and research has shown that it influences 700 genes (Mercola, 2011, July 29, para. 15 & 17).  A limited case study concludes that Vitamin D improves the behavior of Alzheimer’s patients while individuals with low levels of Vitamin D in their bloodstream score poorly on cognitive tests (Mercola, 2011, July 29, para. 19-20).

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For a blog post on Vitamin D, see: 

Vitamin D may prevent Alzheimer's & dementia.  (2014, August 10). Retrieved from https://evelynsmithsstemscienceblog.blogspot.com/b/post-preview?token=tZ2cQE8BAAA.x050vvxb1oUd34JW5uJ-ew.g9Mta4PHNmY5mRUI1y690g&postId=2533537696312309459&type=POST

 

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Napoletan, Ann.  Super Food: Let’s Talk Turmeric.  Alzheimer’s.net.  A Place for Mom, Inc.  Retrieved from http://www.alzheimers.net/2013-07-29/turmeric-and-alzheimers/

Ayurveda (or traditional Hindu medicine) practitioners have long used the curcumin compound turmeric to treat a variety of ailments (Napoletan, 2015, para. 1).

A very limited case study published in AYU in 2012 (Hishikawa, 2012, Oct.-Dec.) reports curcumin’s ability to relieve Alzheimer’s patients of irritability, anxiety, and agitation, raising their quality of life and their ability to perform activities of daily living independently (Napoletan, 2015, para. 2). 

Noted American ethnobotanist James A. Duke has summarized over 700 turmeric studies that support the claims that curcumin blocks the formation of beta-amyloid plaque and reduces the inflammation of neural tissue.  Tests on mice confirm that curcumin can reduce amyloid plaque (Napoletan, 2015, para. 3). 

Please Pass the Turmeric

To include turmeric in a diet, enjoy curry dishes or add it to a smoothie or prepare turmeric tea (Napoletan, 2015, para. 5).

The Debate on Alternative Treatment

Circumstantial evidence of curcumin’s effectiveness in preventing Alzheimer’s diseases attributes the low rate of Alzheimer’s disease in India with the Indians’ love of curries (Napoletan, 2015, para. 6-7).

See:

Duke, James, A. (2015, August 14).  Curcuma longa L. --  Zingiberaceae. Activities.  Dr. Duke’s Phytochemical and Ethnodatabases. [Online database].  Retrieved from http://sun.ars-grin.gov:8080/npgspub/xsql/duke/pl_act.xsql?taxon=331

------. (1997). The Green Pharmacy.  New York: Rodale Press. Open Library.  Retrieved from https://openlibrary.org/books/OL660775M/The_green_pharmacy

Nibber, Traj. (2013, June 18).  UCLA study sheds light on Longivita form of curcumin. Dr.Nibber.com. Retrieved from https://drnibber.com/ucla-study-longvida-form-of-curcumin-sheds-new-light-on-pre-alzheimers-disease-pathology/

Pre-tangle tau begins to accumulate in the brains of healthy adults early in life:  A 2011 study has documented that 90 percent of all adults under age 30 have begun to accumulate it (Nibber, 2013, June 18, para. 2).

Longvita, a form of curcumin developed by UCLA researchers Sally Frautschy and Greg Cole, improves the memory of mice with high levels of beta-amyloid plaque (Nibber, 2013, June 18, para. 3).  Additionally, a limited human trial published in Nutrition Journal has found that an 80 milligram dose of Longvita reduces plaque in healthy, middle-aged adults compared to their counterparts taking a placebo (Nibber, 2013, June 18, para. 4)

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Addendum

August 31, 2015

Warning: While the friendly, neighborhood health food store may recommend taking curcumin with fish oil to increase its absorption, the University of Maryland Medical Center cautions that it’s important to consult a physician before taking three grams of Omega-3 fatty fish supplements daily. Moreover, although the American Heart Association recommends that adults eat two servings of Omega 3-fatty fish weekly, the University of Maryland Medical Center cautions that three servings of Omega-3 fish per week may raise the risk of Hemorrhagic stroke (Omega-3 fatty acid, 2015, para. 8 & 21).

Omega 3 fatty acids. (2015).  University of Maryland Medical Center.  Retrieved from http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/omega3-fatty-acids

Fish and Omega-3 fatty acid. (2015, June 15). American Heart Association http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/HealthyDietGoals/Fish-and-Omega-3-Fatty-Acids_UCM_303248_Article.jsp

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Did you know that curcumin may also fight cancer?

August 31, 2015

Axe, Josh.  (2015).  Top 12 cancer-fighting foods.  Dr. Axe Food is Medicine. http://draxe.com/cancer-fighting-foods/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter

Tumeric adds splice to your diet.  (2011, January 31). Cancerwise. M. D. Anderson Center.  Retrieved from http://www2.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/2011/01/turmeric-adds-spice-to-your-health.html

Moynihan, Timothy.  (2014, December 23).  Can curcumin slow cancer growth? Diseases and Conditions: Cancer.  Mayo Clinic.  Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/expert-answers/curcumin/FAQ-20057858

Josh Axe lists turmeric, or curcumin as his fourth cancer-fighting food (Axe, 2015, para. 21)  and as early as January 31, 2011, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center recommended curcumin as a cancer-fighting spice, but the Mayo clinic notes that while “laboratory and animal research suggests that curcumin may prevent cancer, slow the spread of cancer, make chemotherapy more effective and protect healthy cells from damage by radiation therapy,” medical trials on this herb’s effect on cancer are still in their early stages (Moynihan, 2014, December 23, para. 4-5).

More on this later!

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The  links furnished on this Web page represent the opinions of their authors, so they complement—not substitute—for a physician’s advice