Highly Bioavailable Curcumin, but Not Native Curcumin, Combined With Exercise Improves Cognitive Function in Mice.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Pharmacology
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Curcumin (Cur) shows potential for cognitive enhancement, but its low bioavailability limits efficacy.
• Exercise is known to improve brain function, suggesting a potential synergistic effect with cognitive enhancers.
• A novel, highly bioavailable curcumin formulation (HC) was developed using an amorphous individual dispersion technique.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the synergistic effects of the highly bioavailable curcumin formulation (HC) and exercise on cognitive function.
• To determine if HC alone or in combination with exercise improves spatial memory and learning.
• To explore the underlying molecular mechanisms, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression.

Main Methods:

• Mice were administered either native curcumin or the HC formulation, with or without voluntary exercise for 4 weeks.
• Cognitive function was assessed using the novel location-recognition and passive avoidance tests.
• Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression and related pathways were analyzed.

Main Results:

• HC alone did not improve cognitive function in mice.
• The combination of HC and voluntary exercise significantly enhanced spatial memory and learning compared to exercise alone or native curcumin.
• This cognitive improvement was associated with elevated BDNF expression via activation of specific signaling pathways.

Conclusions:

• The highly bioavailable curcumin formulation (HC), in conjunction with exercise, demonstrates a synergistic effect on cognitive function, specifically spatial memory and learning.
• Native curcumin did not yield similar cognitive benefits, highlighting the importance of bioavailability.
• HC presents a promising dietary supplement strategy to enhance cognitive performance, particularly when combined with exercise, for both younger and older adults.