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18-Month Study of Memory Effects of Curcumin

NCT01383161 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: PHASE2 · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 46

Last updated 2020-03-03

Study results available
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Summary

This project is designed to study the effects of the dietary supplement curcumin on age-related cognitive impairment. In particular, the study seeks to determine the effects of curcumin on cognitive decline and the amount of abnormal amyloid protein in the brain. Genetic risk will also be studied as a potential predictor of cognitive decline.

Subjects will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: either a placebo twice daily or the curcumin supplement (Theracurmin®, containing 90 mg of curcumin). The investigators expect that the volunteers receiving the curcumin supplement will show less evidence of decline after 18 months than those receiving the placebo. The investigators predict that cognitive decline and treatment response will vary according to genetic risk for Alzheimer's.

The investigators will study subjects with memory complaints aged 50-90 years. Initially, subjects will undergo a clinical assessment, an MRI and a blood draw to determine genetic risk and to rule out other neurodegenerative disorders linked to memory complaints. Subsequently, subjects will undergo an -(1-{6-\[(2-\[F-18\]fluoroethyl)(methyl)amino\]-2-naphthyl}ethylidene)malononitrile (FDDNP) PET scan and a baseline neuropsychological assessment to confirm a diagnosis of MCI or normal aging. Once enrolled, subjects will begin taking the supplement (either curcumin or a placebo). Some of the initial subjects will be asked to return every three months for regular MRIs. Every 6 months, subjects will also receive neuropsychological assessments. At the conclusion of the study, subjects will be asked to complete a final neuropsychological assessment, MRI scan, PET scan and blood draw. Additional blood will be drawn at baseline and at 18 months and frozen to assess inflammatory markers if cognitive outcomes are positive.

FDDNP-PET scans will be used to measure the amount of abnormal amyloid plaque- and tau tangle-proteins in the brain; the MRIs will be used to monitor supplement side effects and measure brain structure; the neuropsychological assessments will monitor rates of cognitive decline; the blood draws will be used to determine genetic risk and to test levels of inflammatory markers.

Conditions

  • Age-associated Cognitive Impairment
  • Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)

Interventions

DRUG

Curcumin

Six Theracurmin capsules (containing 30 mg of curcumin each) per day for 18 months.

OTHER

Placebo

Six capsules per day for 18 months.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Principal Investigators

  • Gary W Small, MD · UCLA Longevity Center

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
50 Years
Max Age
90 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2012-03-31
Primary Completion
2017-04-30
Completion
2017-04-30

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Entities

Companies

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT01383161 on ClinicalTrials.gov