Curcumin Complex Helps Clear Brain Plaque

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A curcumin complex extracted from turmeric helped the brain clear amyloid-beta plaque that could otherwise lead to development and progression of Alzheimer's disease and other neurological problems. Researchers from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Medicine published their findings in the Oct. 9 issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease (10,2, 2006).

Researchers drew blood taken from six Alzheimer's disease patients and three healthycontrols, and isolated the antigen-fighting macrophages. The isolated immune cells were exposed to the turmeric extract (as Curcumin C3 Complex®, from Sabinsa Corp.) in a cell culture for 24 hours, after which time they introduced amyloid-beta to the culture. The treated macrophages showed improved ingestion of amyloid-beta compared to those not treated with curcuminoids. Macrophages from the healthy controls, which were shown to be effectively clearing amyloid-beta, showed no changes with curcuminoids treatment.

"These initial findings may lead to a new approach in treating Alzheimer's disease by enhancing the natural function of the immune system using curcumin, thus increasing the body's ability to remove plaques that may cause Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia," stated UCLA researcher Milan Fiala, M.D. He explained the method researchers used to test the immune cell response of macrophages may provide a novel way of evaluating the effectiveness of drugs in clearing amyloid beta from the brain and may help to individualize Alzheimer's disease treatment.

"The amount of research being conducted on curcuminoids in different and diversified fields of medicine is staggering, and it is becoming evident from results of basic, preclinical and clinical research that they are some of the most promising food derived compounds for managing inflammatory and degenerative conditions," noted Vladimir Badmaev, M.D., Ph.D., vice president of scientific and medical affairs at Sabinsa. "Often in studies, the material being tested is not commercially available. However, our Curcumin C3 Complex is available to manufacturers, as well as to consumers through a variety of finished products."