Since it became clear that AD is characterized by chronic inflammation and oxidative damage-and that patients taking nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) had a reduced risk of AD-researchers have focused attention on strategies to reduce these interrelated cytotoxic processes in AD. There has been a particular interest in finding alternatives to NSAIDs, which have significant side effects with long-term use.

Cole and his colleagues noted that curcumin, a yellow curry spice derived from turmeric, is a potent antioxidant. It is several times more potent a free radical scavenger than vitamin E (α-tocopherol), which has been unsuccessfully tested as a therapy to slow the progression of AD. The researchers tested two dietary doses (160 and 5,000 ppm) of curcumin on APPSw transgenic mice. Thanks to the defective AβPP gene from a Swedish family with hereditary AD, these mice display some of the hallmarks of AD (the accumulation of neuritic plaques, memory deficits as they age, as well as chronic inflammatory responses and oxidative damage). After being fed curcumin from the age of 10 to 16 months, mice in both the low- and high-dose groups had significantly lower brain levels of oxidized proteins and interleukin-1, a proinflammatory cytokine. With the lower dose only, there were significant reductions in the astrocytic marker GFAP (associated with injury and inflammatory processes), and in insoluble Aβ, soluble Aβ, and plaque burden.

"In light of its efficacy and apparent low toxicity, this Indian spice component shows promise for the prevention Alzheimer's disease," conclude the authors.-Hakon Heimer.

Reference:
Lim GP, Chu T, Yang F, Beech W, Frautschy SA, Cole GM. The curry spice curcumin reduces oxidative damage and amyloid pathology in an Alzheimer's transgenic mouse. J Neuroscience 2001 Nov 1;21(21):8370-7. Abstract