Curcumin May Help Alheimer's and Parkinson's
By Dr. Randi Fredricks, Ph.D.
Curcumin (Curcuma longa) is the main biologically active phytochemical compound of turmeric.
It is extracted, concentrated, standardized and researched. Curcumin, which gives the yellow color to turmeric,
was first isolated almost two centuries ago, and its structure as diferuloylmethane was determined in 1910.
Curcumin has been part of Indian traditional medicine for thousands of years, and is used as an anti-inflammatory
treatment for a variety of aliments.
According to a study at UCLA using mice, it was found that curcumin inhibited the accumulation
of destructive beta amyloids (a component of the neurofibrillary tangles and plaques attributed to Alheimer's) in the brains of Alheimer's
Disease (AD) patients,
as well as break up existing plaques. Based on findings, researchers determined:
Curcumin is more effective in inhibiting the formation of the protein fragments than many other potential AD treatments.
Curcumin’s low molecular weight and structure allows it to penetrate the blood-brain barrier effectively and bind to beta amyloid.
AD symptoms caused by inflammation and oxidation are eased by curcumin's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Other studies have had equally positive findings.
A UCLA study examining the immunological effect of cucumin in AD, reported that cucumin
"may correct immune defects of AD patients and provide a previously uncharacterized approach to AD immunotherapy."
Curcumin is also used in herbal medicine and mental health in combination with other herbs.
A review of several studies that looked at how the antioxidant activities of phenolic compounds produce neuroprotective
effects found that green tea, ginkgo biloba extract, blueberry extracts, and curcumin all had the ability to reduce or to
block neuronal death occurring in the pathophysiology of AD and Parkinson’s.
References (To view, roll mouse over the "References" heading; to hide, click on the heading)
Fiala M, Liu PT, Espinosa-Jeffrey A, Rosenthal MJ, Bernard G, Ringman JM, Sayre J, Zhang L, Zaghi J, Dejbakhsh S, Chiang B, Hui J, Mahanian M, Baghaee A, Hong P, Cashman J. Innate immunity and transcription of MGAT-III and Toll-like receptors in Alzheimer's disease patients are improved by bisdemethoxycurcumin. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2007 Jul 31;104(31): 12849-54.
Fredricks, R. (2008). Healing & wholeness: Complementary and alternative therapies for mental health. Bloomington,IN: Authorhouse.
Goel A, Kunnumakkara AB, Aggarwal BB. Curcumin as "Curecumin": From kitchen to clinic. Biochem Pharmacol 2007 Aug 19. [Epub ahead of print]
Singh AK, Jiang Y, Benlhabib E, Gupta S. Herbal mixtures consisting of puerarin and either polyenylphosphatidylcholine or curcumin provide comprehensive protection against alcohol-related disorders in P rats receiving free choice water and 15% ethanol in pure water. J Med Food 2007 Sep;10(3): 526-42.
Yang F, Lim GP, Begum AN, Ubeda OJ, Simmons MR, Ambegaokar SS, Chen PP, Kayed R, Glabe CG, Frautschy SA, Cole GM. Curcumin inhibits formation of amyloid beta oligomers and fibrils, binds plaques, and reduces amyloid in vivo. J Biol Chem 2005 Feb 18;280(7): 5892-901.
San Jose Therapy Counseling Psychotherapy psychotherapist therapist
