Examining the potential clinical value of curcumin in the prevention and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Maurice Preter MD

Goozee KG, Shah TM, Sohrabi HR, et al. Examining the potential clinical value of curcumin in the prevention and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Br J Nutr. 2016;115(3):449-465. doi:10.1017/S0007114515004687

Examining the potential clinical value of curcumin in the prevention and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease

K G Goozee 1, T M Shah 2, H R Sohrabi 2, S R Rainey-Smith 2, B Brown 2, G Verdile 2, R N Martins 1
Affiliations

Free article

Abstract

Curcumin derived from turmeric is well documented for its anti-carcinogenic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Recent studies show that curcumin also possesses neuroprotective and cognitive-enhancing properties that may help delay or prevent neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Currently, clinical diagnosis of AD is onerous, and it is primarily based on the exclusion of other causes of dementia. In addition, phase III clinical trials of potential treatments have mostly failed, leaving disease-modifying interventions elusive. AD can be characterised neuropathologically by the deposition of extracellular β amyloid (Aβ) plaques and intracellular accumulation of tau-containing neurofibrillary tangles. Disruptions in Aβ metabolism/clearance contribute to AD pathogenesis. In vitro studies have shown that Aβ metabolism is altered by curcumin, and animal studies report that curcumin may influence brain function and the development of dementia, because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as its ability to influence Aβ metabolism. However, clinical studies of curcumin have revealed limited effects to date, most likely because of curcumin’s relatively low solubility and bioavailability, and because of selection of cohorts with diagnosed AD, in whom there is already major neuropathology. However, the fresh approach of targeting early AD pathology (by treating healthy, pre-clinical and mild cognitive impairment-stage cohorts) combined with new curcumin formulations that increase bioavailability is renewing optimism concerning curcumin-based therapy. The aim of this paper is to review the current evidence supporting an association between curcumin and modulation of AD pathology, including in vitro and in vivo studies. We also review the use of curcumin in emerging retinal imaging technology, as a fluorochrome for AD diagnostics.

Keywords: AD Alzheimer’s disease; APP amyloid precursor protein; Alzheimer’s disease; Amyloid; Aβ β amyloid; BACE1 β-APP-cleaving enzyme-1; BBB blood–brain barrier; BDNF brain-derived neurotropic factor; Curcumin; NFT neurofibrillary tangles; PSD-95 post-synaptic density 95; Retinal imaging.

 

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Rhodiola rosea L. and Alzheimer’s Disease: From Farm to Pharmacy

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Maurice Preter MD

Nabavi SF, Braidy N, Orhan IE, Badiee A, Daglia M, Nabavi SM. Rhodiola rosea L. and Alzheimer’s Disease: From Farm to Pharmacy. Phytother Res. 2016;30(4):532-539. doi:10.1002/ptr.5569 . 2016 Apr;30(4):532-9. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5569. Epub 2016 Jan 11

Rhodiola rosea L. and Alzheimer’s Disease: From Farm to Pharmacy

Seyed Fazel Nabavi 1, Nady Braidy 2, Ilkay Erdogan Orhan 3, Arash Badiee 4, Maria Daglia 5, Seyed Mohammad Nabavi 1
Affiliations

Abstract

Rhodiola rosea L. (roseroot) is a common member of the family Crassulaceae, known as one of the most important popular medicinal plants in the northern region of Europe. The roots of R. rosea possess a wide range of pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, antiinflammatory, anticancer, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective effects that are because of the presence of different phytochemicals such as phenols and flavonoids. In addition, the presence of salidroside, rosavins, and p-tyrosol are responsible for its beneficial effects for the treatment of on depression, fatigue, and cognitive dysfunction. A plethora of studies report that R. rosea has potent neuroprotective effects through the suppression of oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and excitotoxicity in brain tissues and antagonism of oncogenic p21-activated kinase. However, to our knowledge, no review articles have been published addressing the neuroprotective effects of R. rosea. Therefore, the present article aims at critically reviewing the available literature on the beneficial effects of R. rosea on as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases where oxidative stress plays a major role in disease development and progression. We also discuss the cultivation, phytochemistry, clinical impacts, and adverse effects of R. rosea to provide a broader insight on the therapeutic potential for this plant.

Keywords: Neurodegeneration; Neuroinflammation; Neurotoxicity; Oxidative stress; Rhodiola rosea.

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BCG vaccine protection from severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Posted on July 12, 2020 by Maurice Preter MD

Of possible interest. Complicated story.

https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/early/2020/07/07/2008410117.full.pdf

Luis E. Escobara,1, Alvaro Molina-Cruzb, and Carolina Barillas-Muryb,1
aDepartment of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24601; and bLaboratory of Malaria and

Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892 Contributed by Carolina Barillas-Mury, June 9, 2020 (sent for review May 1, 2020; reviewed by Serap Aksoy and Rita R. Colwell)

A series of epidemiological explorations has suggested a negative association between national bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vac- cination policy and the prevalence and mortality of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, these comparisons are difficult to validate due to broad differences between countries such as socioeconomic status, demographic structure, rural vs. urban set- tings, time of arrival of the pandemic, number of diagnostic tests and criteria for testing, and national control strategies to limit the spread of COVID-19. We review evidence for a potential biological basis of BCG cross-protection from severe COVID-19, and refine the epidemiological analysis to mitigate effects of potentially con- founding factors (e.g., stage of the COVID-19 epidemic, develop- ment, rurality, population density, and age structure). A strong correlation between the BCG index, an estimation of the degree of universal BCG vaccination deployment in a country, and COVID- 19 mortality in different socially similar European countries was observed (r2 = 0.88; P = 8 × 10−7), indicating that every 10% in- crease in the BCG index was associated with a 10.4% reduction in COVID-19 mortality. Results fail to confirm the null hypothesis of no association between BCG vaccination and COVID-19 mortality, and suggest that BCG could have a protective effect. Nevertheless, the analyses are restricted to coarse-scale signals and should be considered with caution. BCG vaccination clinical trials are required to corroborate the patterns detected here, and to establish causal- ity between BCG vaccination and protection from severe COVID- 19. Public health implications of a plausible BCG cross-protection from severe COVID-19 are discussed.

BCG vaccination policy | COVID-19 coronavirus | cross-protection | mortality | pandemic

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Decreased percentage REM sleep was associated with greater risk of all-cause, cardiovascular, and other noncancer-related mortality in 2 independent cohorts.

Posted on July 10, 2020 by Maurice Preter MD
Implications for brain health, mood too. #turmeric #https://psychiatryneurology.net/?s=turmeric
 
 
 
Original Investigation
July 6, 2020

Association of Rapid Eye Movement Sleep With Mortality in Middle-aged and Older Adults

Eileen B. Leary, PhD, RPSGT1; Kathleen T. Watson, MS1; Sonia Ancoli-Israel, PhD2; et alSusan Redline, MD, MPH3; Kristine Yaffe, MD4; Laurel A. Ravelo, MS5; Paul E. Peppard, PhD5; James Zou, PhD1; Steven N. Goodman, MD, MHS, PhD1; Emmanuel Mignot, MD, PhD1; Katie L. Stone, PhD4,6
Author Affiliations
JAMA Neurol. Published online July 6, 2020. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2020.2108
 
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Editorial

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Key Points

Question  Is less rapid eye movement (REM) sleep associated with increased mortality?

Findings  In this cross-sectional study of 4050 individuals from 2 independent cohorts, lower amounts of REM sleep were associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality. There was a 13% higher mortality rate over 12.1 years for every 5% reduction in REM sleep in a cohort of 2675 older men, and the finding was replicated in a cohort of 1375 middle-aged men and women followed-up for 20.8 years.

Meaning  Less REM sleep is associated with increased mortality risk.

Abstract

Importance  Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep has been linked with health outcomes, but little is known about the relationship between REM sleep and mortality.

Objective  To investigate whether REM sleep is associated with greater risk of mortality in 2 independent cohorts and to explore whether another sleep stage could be driving the findings.

Design, Setting, and Participants  This multicenter population-based cross-sectional study used data from the Outcomes of Sleep Disorders in Older Men (MrOS) Sleep Study and Wisconsin Sleep Cohort (WSC). MrOS participants were recruited from December 2003 to March 2005, and WSC began in 1988. MrOS and WSC participants who had REM sleep and mortality data were included. Analysis began May 2018 and ended December 2019.

Main Outcomes and Measures  All-cause and cause-specific mortality confirmed with death certificates.

Results  The MrOS cohort included 2675 individuals (2675 men [100%]; mean [SD] age, 76.3 [5.5] years) and was followed up for a median (interquartile range) of 12.1 (7.8-13.2) years. The WSC cohort included 1386 individuals (753 men [54.3%]; mean [SD] age, 51.5 [8.5] years) and was followed up for a median (interquartile range) of 20.8 (17.9-22.4) years. MrOS participants had a 13% higher mortality rate for every 5% reduction in REM sleep (percentage REM sleep SD = 6.6%) after adjusting for multiple demographic, sleep, and health covariates (age-adjusted hazard ratio, 1.12; fully adjusted hazard ratio, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.08-1.19). Results were similar for cardiovascular and other causes of death. Possible threshold effects were seen on the Kaplan-Meier curves, particularly for cancer; individuals with less than 15% REM sleep had a higher mortality rate compared with individuals with 15% or more for each mortality outcome with odds ratios ranging from 1.20 to 1.35. Findings were replicated in the WSC cohort despite younger age, inclusion of women, and longer follow-up (hazard ratio, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.08-1.19). A random forest model identified REM sleep as the most important sleep stage associated with survival.

Conclusions and Relevance  Decreased percentage REM sleep was associated with greater risk of all-cause, cardiovascular, and other noncancer-related mortality in 2 independent cohorts.

 
  • Editorial
    Should Neurologists Be Concerned With REM Sleep Quantity?

 

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/article-abstract/2767713

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Current low to moderate alcohol consumption among middle-aged or older adults may be associated with better total cognitive function.

Posted on July 10, 2020 by Maurice Preter MD
Original Investigation 
Neurology
June 29, 2020

Association of Low to Moderate Alcohol Drinking With Cognitive Functions From Middle to Older Age Among US Adults

Ruiyuan Zhang, MD, MS1; Luqi Shen, MS1; Toni Miles, MD, PhD1; et alYe Shen, PhD1; Jose Cordero, MD, MPH1; Yanling Qi, PhD2; Lirong Liang, PhD3; Changwei Li, MD, PhD, MPH1
Author Affiliations Article Information
JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(6):e207922. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.7922
 
 
Key Points Español  中文 (Chinese)

Question  Does an association exist between current low to moderate alcohol drinking and cognitive function trajectories or rates of cognitive decline from middle to older age among US adults?

Findings  In this cohort study of 19 887 participants from the Health and Retirement Study, with a mean follow-up of 9.1 years, when compared with never drinking, low to moderate drinking was associated with significantly better trajectories of higher cognition scores for mental status, word recall, and vocabulary and with lower rates of decline in each of these cognition domains.

Meaning  Current low to moderate alcohol consumption among middle-aged or older adults may be associated with better total cognitive function.

Abstract

Importance  Studies examining the association of low to moderate drinking with various cognitive functions have yielded mixed findings.

Objective  To investigate whether associations exist between low to moderate alcohol drinking and cognitive function trajectories or rates of change in cognitive function from middle age to older age among US adults.

Design, Setting, and Participants  A prospective cohort study of participants drawn from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative sample of US adults, with mean (SD) follow-up of 9.1 (3.1) years. In total, 19 887 participants who had their cognitive functions measured in the HRS starting in 1996 through 2008 and who had participated in at least 3 biennial surveys were included. The data analysis was conducted from June to November 2019.

Exposures  Alcohol consumption and aging.

Main Outcomes and Measures  Trajectories and annual rates of change for the cognitive domains of mental status, word recall, and vocabulary and for the total cognitive score, which was the sum of the mental status and word recall scores. Participants were clustered into 2 cognitive function trajectories for each cognition measure assessed based on their scores at baseline and through at least 3 biennial surveys: a consistently low trajectory (representing low cognitive scores throughout the study period) and a consistently high trajectory (representing high cognitive scores throughout the study period).

Results  The mean (SD) age of 19 887 participants was 61.8 (10.2) years, and the majority of the HRS participants were women (11 943 [60.1%]) and of white race/ethnicity (16 950 [85.2%]). Low to moderate drinking (<8 drinks per week for women and <15 drinks per week for men) was significantly associated with a consistently high cognitive function trajectory and a lower rate of cognitive decline. Compared with never drinkers, low to moderate drinkers were less likely to have a consistently low trajectory for total cognitive function (odds ratio [OR], 0.66; 95% CI, 0.59-0.74), mental status (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.63-0.81), word recall (OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.69-0.80), and vocabulary (OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.56-0.74) (all P < .001). In addition, low to moderate drinking was associated with decreased annual rates of total cognitive function decline (β coefficient, 0.04; 95% CI, 0.02-0.07; P = .002), mental status (β coefficient, 0.02; 95% CI, 0.01-0.03; P = .002), word recall (β coefficient, 0.02; 95% CI, 0.01-0.04; P = .01), and vocabulary (β coefficient, 0.01; 95% CI, 0.00-0.03; P = .08). A significant racial/ethnic difference was observed for trajectories of mental status (P = .02 for interaction), in which low to moderate drinking was associated with lower odds of having a consistently low trajectory for white participants (OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.56-0.75) but not for black participants (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.74-1.39). Finally, the dosage of alcohol consumed had a U-shaped association with all cognitive function domains for all participants, with an optimal dose of 10 to 14 drinks per week.

Conclusions and relevance  These findings suggested that low to moderate alcohol drinking was associated with better global cognition scores, and these associations appeared stronger for white participants than for black participants. Studies examining the mechanisms underlying the association between alcohol drinking and cognition in middle-aged or older adults are needed.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2767693

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