About Curcumin & Parkinson's Disease

With the increasing incidence of Parkinson's Disease and no known cure, scientists are investigating a variety of treatment options. Researchers are examining stem cell therapy, brain surgery, deep brain stimulation, and even a potential natural cure, curcumin. Curcumin is the chemically active ingredient in turmeric, the golden spice from India. As research findings uncover the healing potential of curcumin , scientists are now probing the possibility of curcumin's curative powers with Parkinson's Disease.

• Curcumin found in the golden Indian spice, turmeric

What is Parkinson's?

• According to parkinsonhealth.com, Parkinson's Disease is a neurological disorder that is characterized by uncontrollable shaking, slowness in movement (bradykinesia), poor balance, decreased facial expression, and rigidity in muscles and limbs. As the disease progresses, some individuals may experience sleep disorders, depression, anxiety and dementia.

  Parkinson's disease is caused by a loss of dopamine production in the brain. Dopamine is a chemical produced in the brain cells that controls movement. Researchers have found a high concentration of alpha-synuclein, a human protein, in the brains of Parkinson's patients and believe this has a role in the decay of dopamine-producing cells.

John Hopkin's University Research

• A research study at John Hopkins University School of Medicine yielded positive results with curcumin and Parkinson's . The cellular degeneration of Parkinson's Disease is linked to inflammation and oxidative damage, and curcumin can protect nerve cells due to its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The John Hopkins' investigators tested curcumin against A53T, a mutant form of alpha-synuclein, that damages and eventually kills cells. A53T killed 50 percent of the untreated cells and only 19 percent of the cells treated with curcumin. "These results suggest that curcumin is a potential candidate for inhibiting the oxidative damage that leads to Parkinson's disease," says Wanli Smith, Ph.D., an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Hopkins. "This common curry spice could be a weapon to protect the brain."

Washington University Research

• James Galvin, M.D., a Washington University associate professor of neurology and Paul Shaw, Ph.D., assistant professor of neurobiology,and Laurent Seugnet, Ph.D., research associate at L'Ecole Supérieure de Physique Chimie Industrielles in France conducted experiments with fruit flies and curcumin . The scientists discovered that sleep loss in experimental fruit flies induces a decline in cognitive functions and dementia similar to that of Parkinson's. By feeding the flies a large dose of curcumin, the scientists observed that sleep deprivation didn't have the same detrimental effect on the flies' cognitive abilities. In a previous study Galvin found that curcumin inhibits alpha-synuclein accumulation in cell models.

Daily Dose of Curcumin

• With such promising scientific findings about curcumin and its ability to possibly ward off Parkinson's Disease, it's a healthy idea to consume a daily dose of turmeric. You can do this by simply drinking turmeric tea, eating more curry, sprinkling turmeric on certain foods or taking turmeric supplements.

Precautions

• Although turmeric is completely safe, go easy on the turmeric if you are pregnant, nursing, or are on blood thinning medication.