A potential role of the curry spice curcumin in Alzheimer's disease.
There is substantial in-vitro data indicating that curcumin has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-amyloid activity. In addition, studies in animal models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) indicate a direct effect of curcumin in decreasing the amyloid pathology of AD. As the widespread use of curcumin as a food additive and relatively small short-term studies in humans suggest safety, curcumin is a promising agent in the treatment and/or prevention of AD. Nonetheless, important information regarding curcumin bioavailability, safety and tolerability, particularly in an elderly population is lacking. We are therefore performing a study of curcumin in patients with AD to gather this information in addition to data on the effect of curcumin on biomarkers of AD pathology.
Ringman
John M
JM
University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Neurology, Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. jringman@mednet.ucla.edu
Frautschy
Sally A
SA
Cole
Gregory M
GM
Masterman
Donna L
DL
Cummings
Jeffrey L
JL
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D000818:Animals; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic / Q000379:methods; D030024:Curcuma; D003474:Curcumin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D017365:Spices
D003474:Curcumin