Therapeutic Potential of Curcumin in Alzheimer’s Disease: A Golden Spice in Medicinal Role

Abstract

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with cognitive impairments; behavioral, social, and work-related dysfunctions; and ultimately causes the death of the individuals. The golden spice, curcumin, is a dietary polyphenol that emerged out from the kitchen to the scientific platform. It is an important component of Curcuma longa (Family: Zingiberaceae).  It has been reported for the treatment of various diseases, due to its analgesic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antiapoptotic, antiproliferative, immunomodulatory, antiepileptic, antidepressant, and neuroprotective effects. Due to these multiple pharmacological effects, it has been explored in the treatment of AD. Despite having excellent safety and efficacy profile, naïve curcumin faces some challenges in proving its therapeutic efficacy during clinical trials due to its poor aqueous solubility, low bioavailability, and reduced blood-brain barrier permeability. Multiple mechanistic pathways through which curcumin elicits its neuroprotective effects and the challenges associated with curcumin that compromise therapeutic efficacy is described in this article. The nanoformulations developed to enhance the bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy of curcumin are also covered with detailed descriptions of research works carried by various researchers to treat AD. Further, some clinical studies conducted for curcumin and its nanoparticles against AD are also enlisted.