Memory and Brain Amyloid and Tau Effects of a Bioavailable Form of Curcumin in Non-Demented Adults: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled 18-Month Trial

How many times does curcumin and tumeric have to be reported on as beneficial before your doctor gets off his/her ass and gets a diet protocol written up? NEVER I BET. Notice the word bioavailable, probably means your doctor will need to prescribe.
25 posts on curcumin back to March 2011.  Your doctors incompetency in action.
14 posts on tumeric back to March 2011.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1064748117305110?via%3Dihub

Author links open overlay panelGary W.SmallM.D.

PrabhaSiddarthPh.D.ZhaopingLiM.D., Ph.D.Karen J.MillerPh.D.LindaErcoliPh.D.Natacha D.EmersonM.A.JacquelineMartinezM.B.A., M.S.Koon-PongWongPh.D.JieLiuPh.D.David A.MerrillM.D., Ph.D.Stephen T.ChenM.D.Susanne M.HenningPh.D., R.D.NagichettiarSatyamurthyPh.D.Sung-ChengHuangD.Sc.DavidHeberM.D., Ph.D.Jorge R.BarrioPh.D.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2017.10.010Get rights and content

Under a Creative Commons license

open access

Highlights

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This is the first long-term (18 months) double-blind, placebo controlled trial of a bioavailable

form of curcumin (Theracurmin® containing 90 mg of curcumin twice daily) in non-demented adults.

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We found that daily oral Theracurmin led to significant memory and attention benefits.

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FDDNP-PET scans performed pre- and post-treatment suggested that behavioral and cognitive benefits are associated with decreases in plaque and tangle accumulation in brain regions modulating mood and memory.

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Curcumin's cognitive benefits may stem from its anti-inflammatory and/or anti-amyloid brain effects.

Objective

Because curcumin's anti-inflammatory properties may protect the brain from neurodegeneration, we studied its effect on memory in non-demented adults and explored its impact on brain amyloid and tau accumulation using 2-(1-{6-[(2-[F-18]fluoroethyl)(methyl)amino]-2-naphthyl}ethylidene)malononitrile positron emission tomography (FDDNP-PET).

Methods

Forty subjects (age 51–84 years) were randomized to a bioavailable form of curcumin (Theracurmin® containing 90 mg of curcumin twice daily [N = 21]) or placebo (N = 19) for 18 months. Primary outcomes were verbal (Buschke Selective Reminding Test [SRT]) and visual (Brief Visual Memory Test-Revised [BVMT-R]) memory, and attention (Trail Making A) was a secondary outcome. FDDNP-PET signals (15 curcumin, 15 placebo) were determined in amygdala, hypothalamus, medial and lateral temporal, posterior cingulate, parietal, frontal, and motor (reference) regions. Mixed effects general linear models controlling for age and education, and effect sizes (ES; Cohen's d) were estimated.

Results

SRT Consistent Long-Term Retrieval improved with curcumin (ES = 0.63, p = 0.002) but not with placebo (ES = 0.06, p = 0.8; between-group: ES = 0.68, p = 0.05). Curcumin also improved SRT Total (ES = 0.53, p = 0.002), visual memory (BVMT-R Recall: ES = 0.50, p = 0.01; BVMT-R Delay: ES = 0.51, p = 0.006), and attention (ES = 0.96, p < 0.0001) compared with placebo (ES = 0.28, p = 0.1; between-group: ES = 0.67, p = 0.04). FDDNP binding decreased significantly in the amygdala with curcumin (ES = −0.41, p = 0.04) compared with placebo (ES = 0.08, p = 0.6; between-group: ES = 0.48, p = 0.07). In the hypothalamus, FDDNP binding did not change with curcumin (ES = −0.30, p = 0.2), but increased with placebo (ES = 0.26, p = 0.05; between-group: ES = 0.55, p = 0.02).

Conclusions

Daily oral Theracurmin may lead to improved memory and attention in non-demented adults. The FDDNP-PET findings suggest that symptom benefits are associated with decreases in amyloid and tau accumulation in brain regions modulating mood and memory.