The Effect of Curcumin Differs on Individual Cognitive Domains across Different Patient Populations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

doi:10.3390/ph14121235

Review

. 2021 Nov 28;14(12):1235.

doi: 10.3390/ph14121235.

The Effect of Curcumin Differs on Individual Cognitive Domains across Different Patient Populations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

I-Chen Tsai^{1

2

3}, Chih-Wei Hsu^{4

5}, Chun-Hung Chang^{6

7

8}, Ping-Tao Tseng^{9

10

11}, Ke-Vin Chang^{12

13

14}

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan.
² Congenital Heart Disease Study Group, Asian Society of Cardiovascular Imaging, Seoul 13572, Korea.
³ InnovaRad Inc., Taichung 407004, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan.
⁵ Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan.
⁶ Institute of Clinical Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung 404333, Taiwan.
⁷ Department of Psychiatry & Brain Disease Research Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404332, Taiwan.
⁸ An Nan Hospital, China Medical University, Tainan 709204, Taiwan.
⁹ Prospect Clinic for Otorhinolaryngology & Neurology, Kaohsiung 811022, Taiwan.
¹⁰ Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 804201, Taiwan.
¹¹ Department of Psychology, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung 41354, Taiwan.
¹² Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 10048, Taiwan.
¹³ Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, Bei-Hu Branch, Taipei 10845, Taiwan.
¹⁴ Center for Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Wang-Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11600, Taiwan.

PMID: 34959636
PMCID: PMC8708668
DOI: 10.3390/ph14121235

Review

The Effect of Curcumin Differs on Individual Cognitive Domains across Different Patient Populations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

I-Chen Tsai et al. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2021.

. 2021 Nov 28;14(12):1235.

doi: 10.3390/ph14121235.

Authors

I-Chen Tsai^{1

2

3}, Chih-Wei Hsu^{4

5}, Chun-Hung Chang^{6

7

8}, Ping-Tao Tseng^{9

10

11}, Ke-Vin Chang^{12

13

14}

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan.
² Congenital Heart Disease Study Group, Asian Society of Cardiovascular Imaging, Seoul 13572, Korea.
³ InnovaRad Inc., Taichung 407004, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan.
⁵ Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan.
⁶ Institute of Clinical Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung 404333, Taiwan.
⁷ Department of Psychiatry & Brain Disease Research Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404332, Taiwan.
⁸ An Nan Hospital, China Medical University, Tainan 709204, Taiwan.
⁹ Prospect Clinic for Otorhinolaryngology & Neurology, Kaohsiung 811022, Taiwan.
¹⁰ Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 804201, Taiwan.
¹¹ Department of Psychology, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung 41354, Taiwan.
¹² Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 10048, Taiwan.
¹³ Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, Bei-Hu Branch, Taipei 10845, Taiwan.
¹⁴ Center for Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Wang-Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11600, Taiwan.

PMID: 34959636
PMCID: PMC8708668
DOI: 10.3390/ph14121235

Abstract

Curcumin is a polyphenol with strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that has been shown to be effective in ameliorating cognitive decline in animal studies. However, its clinical effectiveness is inconclusive, and relevant gastrointestinal adverse events (AEs) have been reported. The aim of this meta-analysis was to summarize the existing evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of effects of curcumin on overall cognitive function, individual cognitive domains, and gastrointestinal AE. The study includes 8 RCTs and 389 participants. A random-effects model was used for the meta-analysis. Compared with the placebo group, the curcumin group was associated with an improvement in working memory (Hedges' g = 0.396, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.078 to 0.714, p = 0.015) and a borderline benefit in processing speed (Hedges' g = 0.303, 95% CI = -0.013 to 0.619, p = 0.06). In the domains of language, episodic memory/visual learning, verbal memory, cognitive flexibility/problem solving, and overall cognitive function, no significant difference existed for the comparison between the curcumin and placebo groups. The curcumin group had a significantly higher risk of gastrointestinal AEs than the placebo group (odds ratio = 3.019, 95% CI = 1.118 to 8.150, p = 0.029). In the future, the effects of curcumin on working memory, processing speed, and gastrointestinal AE should be further investigated.

Keywords: Curcuma longa; cognition; cognitive function; curcumin; turmeric.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

**Figure 1**
PRISMA 2020 flowchart of current meta-analysis.

**Figure 2**
Summary of quality assessment of studies included in the meta-analysis using Cochrane risk of bias 2 tool.

**Figure 3**
Forest plot of the effect of curcumin on the overall cognitive function.

**Figure 4**
Forest plot of the effect of curcumin on working memory.

**Figure 5**
Forest plot of effect of curcumin on processing speed.

**Figure 6**
Forest plot of the gastrointestinal adverse event rate of curcumin compared with the placebo group.

See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

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[1] Shehzad A., Rehman G., Lee Y.S. Curcumin in inflammatory diseases. Biofactors. 2013;39:69–77. doi: 10.1002/biof.1066. - DOI - PubMed

[2] Shehzad A., Rehman G., Lee Y.S. Curcumin in inflammatory diseases. Biofactors. 2013;39:69–77. doi: 10.1002/biof.1066. - DOI - PubMed

[3] Parada E., Buendia I., Navarro E., Avendaño C., Egea J., López M.G. Microglial HO-1 induction by curcumin provides antioxidant, antineuroinflammatory, and glioprotective effects. Mol. Nutr. Food Res. 2015;59:1690–1700. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201500279. - DOI - PubMed

[4] Parada E., Buendia I., Navarro E., Avendaño C., Egea J., López M.G. Microglial HO-1 induction by curcumin provides antioxidant, antineuroinflammatory, and glioprotective effects. Mol. Nutr. Food Res. 2015;59:1690–1700. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201500279. - DOI - PubMed

[5] Sarker M.R., Franks S.F. Efficacy of curcumin for age-associated cognitive decline: A narrative review of preclinical and clinical studies. Geroscience. 2018;40:73–95. doi: 10.1007/s11357-018-0017-z. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[6] Sarker M.R., Franks S.F. Efficacy of curcumin for age-associated cognitive decline: A narrative review of preclinical and clinical studies. Geroscience. 2018;40:73–95. doi: 10.1007/s11357-018-0017-z. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[7] Kocaadam B., Şanlier N. Curcumin, an active component of turmeric (Curcuma longa), and its effects on health. Crit. Rev. Food Sci. Nutr. 2017;57:2889–2895. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2015.1077195. - DOI - PubMed

[8] Kocaadam B., Şanlier N. Curcumin, an active component of turmeric (Curcuma longa), and its effects on health. Crit. Rev. Food Sci. Nutr. 2017;57:2889–2895. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2015.1077195. - DOI - PubMed

[9] Tayyem R.F., Heath D.D., Al-Delaimy W.K., Rock C.L. Curcumin content of turmeric and curry powders. Nutr. Cancer. 2006;55:126–131. doi: 10.1207/s15327914nc5502_2. - DOI - PubMed

[10] Tayyem R.F., Heath D.D., Al-Delaimy W.K., Rock C.L. Curcumin content of turmeric and curry powders. Nutr. Cancer. 2006;55:126–131. doi: 10.1207/s15327914nc5502_2. - DOI - PubMed

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The Effect of Curcumin Differs on Individual Cognitive Domains across Different Patient Populations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

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The Effect of Curcumin Differs on Individual Cognitive Domains across Different Patient Populations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

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Conflict of interest statement

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