| | Summary# 44809
Keywords:
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE - Curcuminoids, Curcumin, Turmeric, Spice, Diet, Inflammation, Immunity, Amyloid Beta, Abeta
Topic:
Curcuminoids - found in Turmeric - May Have a Role in the Treatment of Patients with Alzheimer's Disease
Reference:
"Curcuminoids enhance amyloid-beta uptake by macrophages of Alzheimer's disease patients,"
Zhang L, Fiala M, et al, Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 2006; 10(1): 1-7. (Address: Department
of Medicine, Greater LA VA Medical Center and UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
90095, USA. E-mail: Milan Fiala, MD, fiala@ucla.edu ).
Summary:
In a study involving 6 patients with Alzheimer's disease, in vitro administration of curcuminoids was found
to significantly enhance amyloid-beta uptake by macrophages. Persons with Alzheimer's disease have
been found to have defective phagocytosis and significantly lower update of amyloid-beta by
macrophages, with only surface binding and no intracellular uptake - as compared to macrophages of
control subjects without Alzheimer's disease. When the macrophages were treated with curcuminoids -
agents found in the curry spice, turmeric - a significant increase in beta-amyloid uptake by the
macrophages of 3 of the 6 subjects with Alzheimer's disease, was found. Furthermore, curcuminoid
treatment induced intracellular phagocytosis. The subjects whose macrophages responded to the
curcuminoids were younger (average age: 62 years) and had higher score on the Mini-Mental State
Exam (25), as compared to the subjects who were nonresponsive to treatment (average age: 78.3 years,
MMS E score: 20). When the macrophages of control subjects were treated with curcuminoids, uptake
of amyloid-beta, which was high at baseline, did not improve with treatment. The authors point out that
the results of this study partially support results of another recent study which suggests that patients with
Alzheimer's disease experience a general decline in immune responsiveness, which involves defects in
adaptive immune responses. Previous studies have shown curcuminoids to have anti-inflammatory and
anti- and pro-apoptotic properties, and to reduce oxidative damage and inhibit amyloid-beta
aggregation. The authors conclude, "Immunomodulation of the innate immune system by curcuminoids
might be a safe approach to immune clearance of amyloidosis in the AD brain."
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