Curcumin Supplementation May Impart Cognitive Benefits

Curcumin may have long-term effects on your cognitive function by protecting against brain inflammation Tatiana Shepeleva/Shutterstock

And those who took this small dose for 18 months also had less brain plaques associated with Alzheimer’s. Its mode of action?

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

• Curcumin, a bioactive ingredient in the spice turmeric, has over 160 potentially therapeutic activities, including anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and anticancer benefits
• Research suggests curcumin may have long-term effects on your cognitive function by protecting against brain inflammation. By boosting mood, it may also help prevent depression
• Compared to controls, patients who took 90 mg of curcumin for 18 months experienced a 28 percent improvement in memory; brain scans also show they had less brain plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease
• Research also suggests curcumin may offer potent protection against cancer, and it’s been shown to enhance conventional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy
• Consumed alone in its raw form, bioavailability of curcumin is poor; however, there are formulas and methods that improve absorption. The addition of piperine can increase absorption of curcumin by 2,000%

Turmeric, a yellow curry spice used in Indian cuisine, has a long history of medicinal use in traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine. Modern science has confirmed many of its ancient claims, and curcumin alone — one of the most well studied bioactive ingredients in turmeric — has been shown to have over 160 potentially therapeutic activities.