J Biol Chem . 2005 Feb 18;280(7):5892-901. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M404751200. Epub 2004 Dec 7.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15590663/
Abstract
"Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves amyloid beta (Abeta) accumulation, oxidative damage, and inflammation, and risk is reduced with increased antioxidant and anti-inflammatory consumption. The phenolic yellow curry pigment curcumin has potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and can suppress oxidative damage, inflammation, cognitive deficits, and amyloid accumulation. Since the molecular structure of curcumin suggested potential Abeta binding, we investigated whether its efficacy in AD models could be explained by effects on Abeta aggregation. Under aggregating conditions in vitro, curcumin inhibited aggregation (IC(50) = 0.8 microM) as well as disaggregated fibrillar Abeta40 (IC(50) = 1 microM), indicating favorable stoichiometry for inhibition. Curcumin was a better Abeta40 aggregation inhibitor than ibuprofen and naproxen, and prevented Abeta42 oligomer formation and toxicity between 0.1 and 1.0 microM. Under EM, curcumin decreased dose dependently Abeta fibril formation beginning with 0.125 microM. The effects of curcumin did not depend on Abeta sequence but on fibril-related conformation. AD and Tg2576 mice brain sections incubated with curcumin revealed preferential labeling of amyloid plaques. In vivo studies showed that curcumin injected peripherally into aged Tg mice crossed the blood-brain barrier and bound plaques. When fed to aged Tg2576 mice with advanced amyloid accumulation, curcumin labeled plaques and reduced amyloid levels and plaque burden. Hence, curcumin directly binds small beta-amyloid species to block aggregation and fibril formation in vitro and in vivo. These data suggest that low dose curcumin effectively disaggregates Abeta as well as prevents fibril and oligomer formation, supporting the rationale for curcumin use in clinical trials preventing or treating AD." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I ran across a mention turmeric/curcumin while reading "Memory Loss is not Inevitable" by Allen S Josephs, M.D. A fairly short 94 pages.
(He is a Board Certified Physican with internal medicine and neurology accreditations Previous Section Chief of nerology St Barnabas Medical Center Livinston NJ.)
India (reportedly) uses tumeric (source of curcumin) extensively in its cooking and has (reportedly) a low rate of Alzheimers.
Seems like a cheap and easy enough to incorporate in your diet pending the inevitable high cost pharmaceutical solution. Turmeric was discussed on Page 87 of the book.
I would recommend this book for anyone who has a relative who may be starting to have memory problems. (Or if you are worried at your own situation!)
Mark
Thanks. Turmeric is a medicine cabinet in a jar.
One cannot have too much of it. I’ll up my intake. After the cancer surgery I was taking 1 heaping teaspoon a day. Can start up again. Don’t want to get stupider than I am already.