By Dr Conor Kerley, PhD, nutrition researcher and dietitian.
I have written separately about nanocurcumin and migraine and nanocurcumin and multiple sclerosis. But what about brain health in general? Curcumin is known to affect several processes involved in neurocognitive ageing, and it possesses many properties which may prevent or reduce the processes underlying age-related cognitive decline, dementia and mood disorders. Here is what the human research shows.
Quick answer
- Curcumin affects several of the processes involved in brain ageing, and may help prevent or reduce the processes behind age-related cognitive decline, dementia and mood disorders.
- Human research shows that curcumin can cross the blood-brain barrier and get into the brain.
- In older adults, nanocurcumin significantly improved attention and working memory after only one hour in a 2015 study, with better working memory, better mood and less mental fatigue after four weeks.
- An 18-month study in adults aged 51 to 84 reported improved visual memory and attention, and decreased amyloid and tau accumulation in the brain regions that regulate mood and memory.
- A 2020 study in older adults reported better working memory, lower mental fatigue, less tension, anger, confusion and mood disturbance. It used 80 mg of nanocurcumin as Longvida, the same form and dose in Gold Standard Curcumin.
Why curcumin is studied for brain health
Curcumin is known to affect several processes involved in neurocognitive ageing. It possesses many properties which may prevent or reduce the processes underlying age-related cognitive decline, dementia and mood disorders.
In our Gold Standard Curcumin product we use 80 mg of nanocurcumin as Longvida. Longvida is considered the best form of curcumin and nanocurcumin for cognitive support and for crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB).
Does curcumin reach the brain?
There is a barrier between the brain and the rest of the body to stop harmful things getting into the brain and important things from leaving the brain. If a substance crosses the blood-brain barrier, that substance can get into the brain and have benefits directly in the brain.
Research has shown that curcumin can penetrate the blood-brain barrier in test tube research (in vitro) [1] and in animal research [2]. But what does the human research say?
Human research shows that curcumin can cross the blood-brain barrier. A 2022 study from Italian researchers in people living with Parkinson's disease showed that curcumin could penetrate the blood-brain barrier [3].
What the human studies with nanocurcumin found
2015: attention and working memory within an hour
A 2015 study reported that nanocurcumin had multiple benefits in adults aged 60 to 85 after only one hour, including significantly improved attention and significantly improved working memory [4].
After 4 weeks there were additional benefits:
- Improved working memory
- Improved mood
- Reduced mental fatigue
In addition, curcumin reduced total and LDL cholesterol.
2017: nanocurcumin reaches eye tissue in Alzheimer's disease
A 2017 study reported that nanocurcumin was able to enter eye tissue in adults with Alzheimer's disease [5]. Since eye tissue and brain tissue are similarly protected, this study suggests that nanocurcumin may be able to cross the blood-brain barrier and enter the brain, where it could have beneficial effects. This study also suggests that nanocurcumin may have benefit for eye health as well as brain health.
2018: memory, attention, amyloid and tau
A 2018 study reported that nanocurcumin had multiple benefits in adults aged 51 to 84 [6]:
- Improved visual memory
- Improved attention
- Decreased amyloid and tau accumulation in brain regions modulating mood and memory, suggesting a potential reduction in Alzheimer's dementia
2020: inflammation and brain-supporting signals in post-menopausal women
An interesting 2020 study reported that nanocurcumin had multiple benefits in post-menopausal women [7]:
- Increased BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a protein that supports brain cells)
- Increased anti-inflammatory IL-10
- Increased total antioxidant capacity
- Decreased inflammation (hsCRP)
- Decreased oxidative stress (serum concentrations of malondialdehyde)
2020: working memory and mood in older adults
Another 2020 study reported that nanocurcumin had multiple benefits in older adults aged 50 to 80 [8]:
- Better working memory performance
- Lower mental fatigue scores
- Lower tension
- Less anger
- Less confusion
- Less mood disturbance
This study used 80 mg of nanocurcumin as Longvida. The researchers concluded: "These results confirm that Longvida improves aspects of mood and working memory in a healthy older cohort. The pattern of results is consistent with improvements in hippocampal function and may hold promise for alleviating cognitive decline in some populations."
Where nanocurcumin fits in
Gold Standard Curcumin contains 80 mg of nanocurcumin as Longvida per capsule, the same form and dose used in the 2020 study above, together with vitamin D3, vitamin B12 and methylfolate. If you are thinking about it, take this article, and its references, to your next appointment.
Related reading: Nanocurcumin and migraine · Nanocurcumin and multiple sclerosis · The curcumin overview
References
- Cheng KK, et al. Highly stabilized curcumin nanoparticles tested in an in vitro blood-brain barrier model and in Alzheimer's disease Tg2576 mice. AAPS J. 2013;15(2):324-336. PMID 23229335.
- Chiu SS, et al. Differential distribution of intravenous curcumin formulations in the rat brain. Anticancer Res. 2011;31(3):907-911. PMID 21498712.
- Donadio V, et al. The effect of curcumin on idiopathic Parkinson disease: a clinical and skin biopsy study. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 2022. PMID 35556131.
- Cox KH, et al. Investigation of the effects of solid lipid curcumin on cognition and mood in a healthy older population. J Psychopharmacol. 2015;29(5):642-651. PMID 25277322.
- Koronyo Y, et al. Retinal amyloid pathology and proof-of-concept imaging trial in Alzheimer's disease. JCI Insight. 2017;2(16). PMID 28814675.
- Small GW, et al. Memory and brain amyloid and tau effects of a bioavailable form of curcumin in non-demented adults: a double-blind, placebo-controlled 18-month trial. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2018;26(3):266-277. PMID 29246725.
- Osali A. Aerobic exercise and nano-curcumin supplementation improve inflammation in elderly females with metabolic syndrome. Diabetol Metab Syndr. 2020;12:26. PMID 32256716.
- Cox KHM, et al. Further evidence of benefits to mood and working memory from lipidated curcumin in healthy older people: a 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, partial replication study. Nutrients. 2020;12(6). PMID 32512782.
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