Full text at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3183139/


1. Mol Neurobiol. 2011 Oct;44(2):142-59. doi: 10.1007/s12035-011-8168-2. Epub 2011
Mar 1.

Neuroprotection by spice-derived nutraceuticals: you are what you eat!

Kannappan R, Gupta SC, Kim JH, Reuter S, Aggarwal BB.

Cytokine Research Laboratory, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

Numerous lines of evidence indicate that chronic inflammation plays a major role
in the development of various neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's
disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, brain tumor, and meningitis.
Why these diseases are more common among people from some countries than others
is not fully understood, but lifestyle factors have been linked to the
development of neurodegenerative diseases. For example, the incidence of certain
neurodegenerative diseases among people living in the Asian subcontinent, where
people regularly consume spices, is much lower than in countries of the western
world. Extensive research over the last 10 years has indicated that
nutraceuticals derived from such spices as turmeric, red pepper, black pepper,
licorice, clove, ginger, garlic, coriander, and cinnamon target inflammatory
pathways, thereby may prevent neurodegenerative diseases. How these
nutraceuticals modulate various pathways and how they exert neuroprotection are
the focus of this review.

PMCID: PMC3183139
PMID: 21360003 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://cen-online.org/articles/90/i3...min-Treat.html



The lack of hard clinical evidence isn’t stopping people from trying curcumin anyway. Various companies are selling the spice compound as a dietary supplement, both in its powdered form and in nanoformulations such as the ones Cole and Baum are working with. Indiana-based Verdure Sciences, for instance, licensed a curcumin nanoformulation from UCLA and sells it under the name Longvida (about $1.00 to $2.00 per capsule, depending on the distributor).

“There’s no proof that it works,” Cole says. “If you want to take it, you’re experimenting on yourself.” And he cautions that correct dosing for this more bioavailable form of curcumin hasn’t yet been established, so there could be safety concerns.

But on the basis of positive e-mails he’s received from caregivers and Alzheimer’s patients who are desperate for options and trying supplements, “I have some hope,” Cole says. “Maybe there’s something to curcumin after all.”

[QUOTE=soccertese;948066]http://cen-online.org/articles/90/i3...min-Treat.html



The lack of hard clinical evidence isn’t stopping people from trying curcumin anyway. Various companies are selling the spice compound as a dietary supplement, both in its powdered form and in nanoformulations such as the ones Cole and Baum are working with. Indiana-based Verdure Sciences, for instance, licensed a curcumin nanoformulation from UCLA and sells it under the name Longvida (about $1.00 to $2.00 per capsule, depending on the distributor).

“There’s no proof that it works,” Cole says. “If you want to take it, you’re experimenting on yourself.” And he cautions that correct dosing for this more bioavailable form of curcumin hasn’t yet been established, so there could be safety concerns.

But on the basis of positive e-mails he’s received from caregivers and Alzheimer’s patients who are desperate for options and trying supplements, “I have some hope,” Cole says. “Maybe there’s something to curcumin after all.”[/QUOTE}

Thanks, I read the article, and this comment he made really stood out for me:

“All chronic diseases are caused by dysregulation of multiple targets,” he says. “Chemists don’t yet know how to design a drug that hits multiple targets.” With curcumin, “Mother Nature has already provided a compound that does so.”

I am very glad to see recognition of this. We have had so many discussions regarding the various areas affected in PD, thyroid, insulin, dopamine/neurotransmitter balance, etc. I am relieved to see at least one guy in the towers admit that (1) there are multiple areas affected in PD and
(2) science has to date not been able to made a drug that will hit more than one target. I was starting to wonder if the insightful people here were the only ones that had noticed these things...glad that's not the case.

What strikes me in this case is not the risk taking, but the selection process used in taking the risk. Why take curcumin when there is little evidence and could be seen as fad when traditional Aruyvedic treatments (including lots of herbals) are not bothered with (by Westerners); it strikes me as odd that though herbals have been used to treat PD that curcumin is not a key part of treating PD there nor has it been added, that I know of.

The other issue is that when two different, very common plant based foods are touted as working wonders with an incurable disease. Both coconut oil and curcumin changing the course of AD? Maybe, but it seems highly unlikely. Then I get skeptical and wonder how much it is due to placebo?

Just an update on my neutrophils...thanks for the word of caution mudfud. I was only in seeing if peripheral infection might be an issue for me. Two doctors (one a friend with PD) felt it merits more blood work. Maybe I just happened to be fending off an infection at those times but 80% of tests have been high and all since PD diagnosis, and other times much lower in normal range, so it is not like I just have a normally high neutrophil count.