This new study led by Ahmal shows that curcumin binds to alpha-synuclein and thus prevents it from aggregating in neurons. Lisa Lapidus, MSU associate professor of physics said: “Our research shows that curcumin can rescue proteins from aggregation, the first steps of many debilitating diseases. More specifically, curcumin binds strongly to alpha-synuclein and prevents aggregation at body temperatures.”

http://www.doctortipster.com/8831-cu...new-study.html

Curcumin prevents aggregation in α-synuclein by increasing the reconfiguration rate
Basir Ahmad and Lisa J. Lapidus*
+ Author Affiliations

Michigan State University, United States
↵* Corresponding author; email: lapidus@msu.edu
Capsule

Background: α-synuclein is an aggregation-prone protein which reconfigures more slowly under aggregating conditions.

Results: Curcumin binds to monomeric α-synuclein, prevents aggregation and increases the reconfiguration rate, particularly at high temperatures.

Conclusion: Curcumin rescues the protein from aggregation by making the protein more diffusive.

Significance: The search for aggregation inhibitors should account for changes in chain dynamics by the small molecule.

Abstract

α-synuclein is a protein that is intrinsically disordered in vitro and prone to aggregation particularly at high temperatures. In this work we examine the ability of curcumin, a compound found in turmeric, to prevent aggregation of the protein. We find strong binding of curcumin to α-synuclein in the hydrophobic non-amyloid-β component (NAC) region and a complete inhibition of oligomers or fibrils. We also find that the reconfiguration rate within the unfolded protein is significantly increased at high temperatures. We conclude that α-synuclein is prone to aggregation because its reconfiguration rate is slow enough to expose hydrophobic residues on the same timescale that bimolecular association occurs. Curcumin rescues the protein from aggregation by increasing the reconfiguration rate into a faster regime.
http://www.jbc.org/content/early/201...bc.M111.325548

Thanks Olsen, that is really good confirmation. The bad news is it is no immediate miracle, I have been taking it for about 8 or 9 years and only now is it showing substantial benefits. I am now down to 0.75mg levodopa (after 20 years of PD). I aim to get rid of levodopa altogether in a couple of months.However the last remnants are very difficult to stop, it is very addictive. It is nice to know that I may have done some good pushing curcumin for nearly 10 years. Now if only we could get some work done on the BBB!! Thanks again.
Ron

What about nasal delivery / snorting?

Insufflation (Latin insufflatio "blowing on" or "into") is the practice of inhaling a substance.[1] Insufflation has medical use as a route of administration for many respiratory drugs used to treat conditions in the lungs (e.g., asthma or emphysema) and paranasal sinus (e.g., allergy).

The technique is common for many recreational drugs and is also used for some entheogens. Nasal insufflation (snorting) is commonly used for many psychoactive drugs because it causes a much faster onset than orally and bioavailability is usually, but not always, higher than orally. This bioavailability occurs due to the quick absorption of molecules into the bloodstream through the soft tissue in the mucous membrane of the sinus cavity. Some drugs have a higher rate of absorption, and are thus more effective in smaller doses, through this route. Prodrugs, drugs that are metabolized or activated by the liver (such as hydrocodone), should not be insufflated, because they need to be metabolized by the liver to break down into the compounds that are active (drugs absorbed through the GI tract pass through the liver before entering the systemic circulation, where drugs which are insufflated are absorbed directly into the systemic circulation).

The intranasal route (administration through the nose) may allow certain drugs and other molecules to bypass the blood-brain barrier via diffusion through the olfactory epithelium and the perineural sheet or via retrograde axonal transport along olfactory and trigeminal nerves.
This latter process probably implies endocytosis of the molecules. Using this route to the brain allows high concentrations of products in the olfactory bulb shortly after exposition and by diffusion to the entire brain. Therefore using this pathway allows a better biodisponibility the drug in the central nervous system, assuming that the molecule has the right physico-chemical characteristics to get through the nose and the epithelial defenses.[2]

[QUOTE=Ronhutton;862747]Thanks Olsen, that is really good confirmation. The bad news is it is no immediate miracle, I have been taking it for about 8 or 9 years and only now is it showing substantial benefits. I am now down to 0.75mg levodopa (after 20 years of PD). I aim to get rid of levodopa altogether in a couple of months.However the last remnants are very difficult to stop, it is very addictive. It is nice to know that I may have done some good pushing curcumin for nearly 10 years. Now if only we could get some work done on the BBB!! Thanks again.
Ron. Please could you be good enough to tell us what you consider to be the best dosage of curcumin. My husband is taking 6x500mg which is the maximum dosage mentioned on the packet. Is this too much or too little? Is it better to take the whole spice in the form of tumeric?

Curcumin, I think in Asia, vastly larger doses than 3,000mg are taken in foods like curries. I take 1,000mg per day, I buy it from the USA since I have not found a UK source at that dosage. It is relatively cheap and i am sure 3,000mg is safe. I have done searches and you will find higher doses have been trialled successfully. I tried a trial mof 4,000 mg per day, but did not find much improvement, so stuck to my present dosage.
Ron

Curcumin is working for me too. Less stiffness, possibly less tremor, more energy. I take 1,000 mg but also use tumeric most days on a boiled egg. Delicious.

I have been trying Curcumin just for a couple weeks, so it is too early to comment. As far as for the dosage, there is a Super Bio-Curcumin which is said a "next generation" in delivery of Curcumin compounds that no longer requires high doses of Curcumin to reach sustainable levels in the blood plasma. It is by Life Extension and each 400 mg capsules of Super Bio-Curcumin is equivalent to 2772 mg of a typical 95 % curcumin extract (?). Any experience & comment?

Hi wxxu,
Yes, I forgotbto mention curcumin is not very easily absorbed into the bkoodstream. (bioavailability). Buy a grade containing piperine (also known as bioperine). this helps absorbtion into the blood. Piperine is extracted from black peper.
See

http://www.naturalremediescures.com/...-black-pepper/

This article shows curcumin is also effective in combatting Alzheimers, cancer, high cholesterol, osteoarthritis, and others, so it is a bargain supplement!!!!!
Ron

There is another article on curcumin and PD at

http://www.examiner.com/natural-heal...ed-by-curcumin

Ron

Just this week I read it helped with oesophagus cancer. If it was manufactured by some drug company it would be called a wonder drug.