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 doctor's incompetency in action.
14 posts on tumeric back to March 2011. 

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

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.

Curcumin Hype vs Reality

Dr. Steven Novella analyzes this in his Neurologica blog. I was taking curcumin capsules. I had written 19 posts on curcumin if you want to see the previous hype.
http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/curcumin-hype-vs-reality/
Two critical sentences from there;
Chemical analysis of curcumin clearly indicated it was a poor therapeutic candidate due to fatally low bioavailability. This essentially means that all the clinical studies were a waste of time.

Enhancing absorption and bioavailability of curcumin and turmeric

This would seem to be useful to us, so ask your doctor how you get curcumin where it is needed.
Curcumin for these reasons; I'm sure your doctor has told you all about them.

Investigation of the effects of solid lipid curcumin on cognition and mood in a healthy older population

Curcumin boosts DHA in the brain: Implications for the prevention of anxiety disorders

Curcumin, Compound In Turmeric, Found To Impair Fear Memories And Ease PTSD Symptoms

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3.  Curcumin Loaded Nanoparticles Potently Induce Adult Neurogenesis and Reverse Cognitive Deficits in Alzheimer’s Disease Model via Canonical Wnt/β-catenin Pathway

4.  Dietary Strategy to Repair Plasma Membrane After Brain Trauma Implications for Plasticity and Cognition

5.  Neuroprotection by Curcumin in Ischemic Brain Injury Involves the Akt/Nrf2 Pathway

6.  Silica-coated flexible liposomes as a nanohybrid delivery system for enhanced oral bioavailability of curcumin

7.  tumeric and stroke rehab

The latest here:

 Enhancing absorption and bioavailability of curcumin and turmeric

 

 

 

Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers - black pepper

In case you were thinking of taking curcumin. Piperine is the compound that gives black pepper its pungency and has long been recognized for its restorative properties. See what your doctor says.

Adding 'spice' to curcumin’s health-promoting benefits

Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers 

Shoba G¹, Joy D, Joseph T, Majeed M, Rajendran R, Srinivas PS.

Author information

Abstract

The medicinal properties of curcumin obtained from Curcuma longa L. cannot be utilised because of poor bioavailability due to its rapid metabolism in the liver and intestinal wall. In this study, the effect of combining piperine, a known inhibitor of hepatic and intestinal glucuronidation, was evaluated on the bioavailability of curcumin in rats and healthy human volunteers. When curcumin was given alone, in the dose 2 g/kg to rats, moderate serum concentrations were achieved over a period of 4 h. Concomitant administration of piperine 20 mg/kg increased the serum concentration of curcumin for a short period of 1-2 h post drug. Time to maximum was significantly increased (P < 0.02) while elimination half life and clearance significantly decreased (P < 0.02), and the bioavailability was increased by 154%. On the other hand in humans after a dose of 2 g curcumin alone, serum levels were either undetectable or very low. Concomitant administration of piperine 20 mg produced much higher concentrations from 0.25 to 1 h post drug (P < 0.01 at 0.25 and 0.5 h; P < 0.001 at 1 h), the increase in bioavailability was 2000%. The study shows that in the dosages used, piperine enhances the serum concentration, extent of absorption and bioavailability of curcumin in both rats and humans with no adverse effects.