Date of Award
2020
Degree Type
Selective Evidence-Based Medicine Review
Degree Name
Master of Science in Health Sciences - Physician Assistant
Department
Physician Assistant Studies
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not the use of curcumin, versus a placebo, is effective in changing cognitive function.
STUDY DESIGN: Review of 3 randomized control trials with blinding in English from 2008 to present.
DATA SOURCES: Articles were selected from Cochrane and PubMed databases based on relevance to the selected research question and patient-centered outcomes.
OUTCOME(S) MEASURED: The outcome measured is cognitive change, evaluated by mean score changes in the Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE) or the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).
RESULTS: Two of the studies demonstrated no change in cognitive function measured with the MMSE (Ringman JM, Frautschy SA, Teng E, et al. Alzheimers Res Ther. 2012;4(5):43. doi: 10.1186/alzrt146. and Baum, L, Lam CW, Cheung SK, et al. J Clin Psychopharmocol. 2008;28(1):110-113. doi: 10.1097/jcp0b013e318160862c), while the third article also did not demonstrate a change in cognitive function, as measured by the MoCA (Rainey-Smith SR, Brown BM, Sohrabi HR, et al. Br J Nutr. 2016;115(12):2106-2113. doi: 10.1017/S0007114516001203).
CONCLUSIONS: The studies are unable to demonstrate that curcumin is more effective than placebo in preventing cognitive changes.
Recommended Citation
Hawkins, Rachel L., "Does the Administration of Curcumin, Compared to Placebo, Change Cognitive Function in Adults Older than 40?" (2020). PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship. 507.
https://digitalcommons.pcom.edu/pa_systematic_reviews/507