Effects of curcumin on mitochondria in neurodegenerative diseases, 2019, Bagheri et al

[Andy]

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) result from progressive deterioration of selectively susceptible neuron populations in different central nervous system (CNS) regions. NDs are classified in accordance with the primary clinical manifestations (e.g., parkinsonism, dementia, or motor neuron disease), the anatomic basis of neurodegeneration (e.g., frontotemporal degenerations, extrapyramidal disorders, or spinocerebellar degenerations), and fundamental molecular abnormalities (e.g., mutations, mitochondrial dysfunction, and its related molecular alterations). NDs include the Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease, among others. There is a growing evidence that mitochondrial dysfunction and its related mutations in the form of oxidative/nitrosative stress and neurotoxic compounds play major roles in the pathogenesis of various NDs. Curcumin, a polyphenol and nontoxic compound, obtained from turmeric, has been shown to have a therapeutic beneficial effect in various disorders especially on the CNS cells. It has been shown that curcumin has considerable neuro‐ and mitochondria‐protective properties against broad‐spectrum neurotoxic compounds and diseases/injury‐associating NDs. In this article, we have reviewed the various effects of curcumin on mitochondrial dysfunction in NDs.

Paywall, https://iubmb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/biof.1566
Scihub, not available at time of posting.

 

[Saz94]

I get big benefits, especially to my cognitive function, from taking curcumin.

 

[DokaGirl]

For many years I've used a combo milk thistle/dandelion powder/ turmeric supplement, which helps with headaches, and brain fog.

I checked on the turmeric with the supplement company and it's from Japan, if I recall correctly. The company tests for heavy metals etc. The turmeric is not contaminated with lead or other heavy metals, and toxic chemicals.

 

[InitialConditions]

this was quite a shocking read recently https://phys.org/news/2019-09-turmeric.html

 

[DokaGirl]

this was quite a shocking read recently https://phys.org/news/2019-09-turmeric.html

Yes, a shocking read. I forwarded this article to the supplement company whose products I buy, and they replied about where their supply of tumeric comes from, and the testing they do re contamination. Their response was as reassuring as these things can be given we have toxins everywhere.

 

[TigerLilea]

India has low rates of dementia and it is believed to be due to their daily intake of turmeric.

 

[TrixieStix]

India has low rates of dementia and it is believed to be due to their daily intake of turmeric.

The idea that turmeric is the reason for India's lower rate of dementia & Alzheimer's (AD) is too simplistic. While it may turn out to be a contributing factor there are bound to be a multitude of reasons. For example....

"The frequency of the APOE4 allele, a well recognized risk factor for AD is reported to be low in the Indian population in general, with regional differences. The frequency of the APOE4 allele is lower in the north, and central Indian populations compared with the US population."

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3553547/

 

[NelliePledge]

Agree about India. In the U.K. it is only quite recently - 20 years- since some (not particularly effective) medication became available that dementia diagnosis and cause of death has been taken up and recorded. It is spoken about much more openly and deaths are no longer put down to pneumonia etc. Dementia is the highest cause of death in women in the U.K. nowadays

It could simply be that in India dementia is under diagnosed and not reported as cause of death rather than the prevalence being lower.

 

[Hutan]

(Sorry, just entertaining myself here)
Yes, the average life expectancy in India is about 68 years, it's around 80 years in Western countries.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16173292

Looking at some studies, it appears that the prevalence of dementia in India is lower as compared to developed countries and even from other developing countries. The probable reasons for lower prevalence in India are enumerated as:
False negatives,
low life expectancy,
shorter survival and duration of disease,
low age-specific incidence.

There's some 2014 UK data suggesting the prevalence of dementia in 70 to 74 year olds is around 3%; the prevalence of 80 to 84 year olds is around 12% and 90 to 94 year olds is 30%.
In a good study in Maharashtra in India (looks to be lots of turmeric eaten there) with actual screening of people randomly selected from census data, the prevalence in 71 to 75 year olds was 2.2%, the prevalence in 81 to 85 year olds was 10% and in people aged 86 and above it was 18%.

I think your chance of staying alive and adding to the dementia statistics if you are a person with dementia in a western country is a lot higher than if you live in a poor family in India. Given that, I'm not seeing much epidemiological evidence for turmeric helping.

 

[TrixieStix]

Given that, I'm not seeing much epidemiological evidence for turmeric helping.

A while ago I did some researching into the science around turmeric/curcumin and the studies I found showed that the doses that appeared to show any therapeutic benefits (unrelated to dementia) were very large doses that are way beyond what a person could realistically ingest.

Also turmeric/curcumin can interact with medications.

 

[Mij]

Here's my experience with fresh turmeric root. I make golden milk with freshly grated turmeric root and have found that it helps relieve achiness in my fingers.

 

[Anna H]

I get big benefits, especially to my cognitive function, from taking curcumin.

Me too!