Curcumin intervention for cognitive function in different types of people: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract
Curcumin is a polyphenolic natural compound with diverse and attractive biological activities, which may prevent or ameliorate pathological processes underlying age-related cognitive decline, dementia, or mood disorders. However, clinical trials and animal studies have yielded conflicting conclusions regarding its effectiveness for cognition in different individuals. The aim of this review is to meta-analytically assess the effectiveness of curcumin for cognitive function in different types of people. A preliminary search on PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov, Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang Data and China Biology Medicine disc was performed to identify randomized controlled trials investigating the effect of curcumin on cognition. Six clinical trials with a total of 289 subjects met inclusion criteria for this review. We used a random-effects model to calculate the pooled standardized difference of means (SMD). For older adults who received curcumin, scores on measures of cognitive function (SMD = 0.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.05, 0.62]; p = 0.02), occurrence of adverse events (odds ratio [OR] = 5.59, 95% CI [0.96, 36.80]; p = 0.05), and measures of depression (SMD = -0.29, 95% CI [0.64, 0.05]; p = 0.09) indicated significant memory improvement. In patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), scores in measures of cognition status (SMD = -0.90, 95% CI [1.48, -0.32]; p = 0.002) indicated that there was a trend for treated subjects to do worse than placebo-treated subjects on the Mini-Mental State Examination. The occurrence of adverse events (OR = 0.87, 95% CI [0.10, 7.51]; p = 0.90) was similar to those who received placebo. Due to insufficient data, it was impossible to provide a narrative account of only the outcomes for schizophrenia. Curcumin appears to be more effective in improving cognitive function in the elderly than in improving symptoms of AD and schizophrenia. Curcumin is also safe and tolerated among these individuals. Because of the small number of studies available, a funnel plot or sensitivity analysis was not possible. Further high-quality trials with larger sample sizes or bioavailability-improved curcumin formulations may be considered for reliable assessment.
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Curcumin's ability to decrease amyloid-beta plaques, as well as its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, potentially explains enhanced cognitive function in curcumin-treated animal models.
“Furthermore, various studies using animal models of AD have demonstrated enhanced cognitive function in curcumin-treated groups, potentially due to curcumin’s ability to decrease the levels of Aβ plaques, as well as its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties [154,155].”
From The Multifaceted Role of Neuroprotective Plants in Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment (2022) · cites this paper as [154]
Various studies using animal models of Alzheimer's disease demonstrate enhanced cognitive function in curcumin-treated groups.
“Furthermore, various studies using animal models of AD have demonstrated enhanced cognitive function in curcumin-treated groups, potentially due to curcumin’s ability to decrease the levels of Aβ plaques, as well as its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties [154,155].”
From The Multifaceted Role of Neuroprotective Plants in Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment (2022) · cites this paper as [154]
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“Furthermore, various studies using animal models of AD have demonstrated enhanced cognitive function in curcumin-treated groups, potentially due to curcumin’s ability to decrease the levels of Aβ plaques, as well as its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties [154,155].”
BackgroundSchizophrenia, Curcumin and Minimizing Side Effects of Antipsychotic Drugs: Possible Mechanisms
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- Authors
- Zhu, L., Mei, X., Zhang, Z., Xie, Y., & Lang, F.
- Affiliations
- Weifang Medical University (CN)
- Ningbo Kangning Hospital (CN)
- Department of Psychology Weifang Medical University Weifang Shandong 261053 China
- Corresponding author
- Mei, Xi
- ORCID
- Venue
- Phytotherapy Research
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2018-12-21
- Volume
- 33
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 524-533
- ISSN
- 0951-418X (ISSN-L)
- 1099-1573
- OpenAlex
- W2906114134
- Cited by
- 76
- References
- 45
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 6
- FWCI
- 0.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Phytotherapy Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Social Science Planning Project of Shandong Province (17CQSJ14)
- Science and Technology Development Plan Project of Shandong Provincial Commission of Health and Family Planning (2017WS240)
- Major Social Risk Prediction and Governance Collaborative Innovative Center of Weifang Medical University “Health Shandong” (XT1407001)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Medicine › Curcumin's Biomedical Applications
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Medicinal Plants and Neuroprotection
- Keywords
- curcumin, cognitive function, memory enhancement, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, schizophrenia, depression, older adults, age-related cognitive decline, adverse events, polyphenols, curcumin bioavailability, Mini-Mental State Examination, treatment effect heterogeneity
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alzheimer Disease, China, Cognition, Cognition Disorders, Curcumin, Depression, Humans
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