Curcumin and Function in Older Adults

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This placebo-controlled RCT tests whether dietary supplementation with curcumin maintains or improves cognitive and physical function in older adults who are at high risk of functional decline due existing (mild) functional impairments and elevated biomarkers of inflammation and explore the association between functional changes and changes in biological indicators of active inflammation.

Official Title
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Does Dietary Supplementation With Curcumin Maintain or Improve Physical and Cognitive Function in Aging Adults at Increased Risk for Disability?

Conditions
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Older Adults, Physical Function, Cognitive Function

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: Curcumin
* Drug: microcrystalline cellulose


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Age > 65 years Usual walking speed <1 m/sec and >0.44 m/sec on the 4 m walk Sedentary lifestyle (< 120 min per week of moderate intensity physical activity); CRP > 1.0 mg/dL Willingness and ability to give informed consent Willingness to be randomized to the intervention groups Availability for participation through duration of study Exclusion Criteria: Exclusion Criteria (General) Unable to complete 400 meter walk test Failure or inability to provide informed consent Residence in a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF); residence in an Assisted Living Facility (ALF) or independent housing is allowed Self-reported inability to walk one block Blood pressure readings >160/100 Significant cognitive impairment, defined as a known diagnosis of dementia, or a Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) score <24 Unable to communicate because of severe hearing loss or speech disorder Clinically significant depression (CES-D score > 20) Severe cardiac disease, including NYHA Class III or IV congestive heart failure, clinically significant aortic stenosis, history of cardiac arrest, use of a cardiac defibrillator, or uncontrolled angina Severe pulmonary disease, pneumonitis or interstitial lung disease Severe rheumatologic or orthopedic diseases (e.g., awaiting joint replacement, active inflammatory disease) Neurological conditions that cause impaired muscle function or mobility (e.g., Parkinson's Disease, multiple sclerosis, ALS) Other significant co-morbid medical disease (e.g. renal failure with eGFR < 30 ml/minute or on hemodialysis) or severe psychiatric disorder (e.g. bipolar, schizophrenia) Terminal illness with life expectancy less than 12 months, as determined by a physician Excessive alcohol use, defined as more than 5 drinks/day for males or more than 4 drinks/day for females, or more than 14 drinks per week Current smoker or less than 3 years smoking cessation Participating in another clinical trial or receiving an investigational product within 3 months prior to screening/enrollment Exclusion Criteria (Curcumin-related) Diabetes mellitus currently taking medications to lower blood glucose (oral or by injection) Current use of anticoagulant or anti-platelet medications (aspirin 81 mg daily is allowed) Congenital or acquired bleeding disorders Cholelithiasis or other gall bladder or biliary tract disease Chronic gastrointestinal blood loss or iron deficiency (serum ferritin < 12 ng/mL, with or without anemia) History of estrogen-sensitive conditions including breast, uterine, and ovarian cancers; endometriosis; and uterine fibroids History of Tuberculosis (TB), HIV, Hepatitis B or C, or other disease potentially compromising immune function Current use of medications targeting immune or inflammatory function (e.g., sulfasalazine) Current use of anabolic medications (i.e., growth hormones or testosterone), antidepressant medications and antipsychotic agents (including monoamine oxidase inhibitors), or anticholinesterase inhibitors (i.e., Aricept) Temporary Exclusion Criteria Acute infection (urinary, respiratory, other) or hospitalization within 1 month Myocardial infarction, CABG, or valve replacement within past 6 months Pulmonary embolism or deep venous thrombosis within past 6 months Stroke, hip fracture, hip or knee replacement, or spinal surgery within past 4 months Receiving physical therapy for gait, balance, or other lower extremity training

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 65 Years
Maximum Age: 99 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Randomized placebo-controlled design.
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Curcumin<br>Participants will be given identical capsules containing curcumin (1000 mg/day), and will be instructed to consume two 500 mg capsules prior to breakfast every morning with a glass of water. Participants will be instructed to follow this dosing regimen throughout the entire three-month treatment period. Compliance with the dosing regimen will be monitored both through interview and by counting capsules left at monthly clinic visits. | Drug: Curcumin<br>* Participants will be given curcumin (1000 mg/day), and will be instructed to consume two 500 mg capsules prior to breakfast every morning with a glass of water. Participants will be instructed to follow this dosing regimen throughout the entire three-month treatment period. Compliance with the dosing regimen will be monitored both through interview and by counting capsules left at monthly clinic visits.<br>* Other names: C3 Complex;|
| Placebo Comparator: Placebo<br>Participants will be given identical capsules containing placebo (microcrystalline cellulose) and will be instructed to consume two 500 mg capsules prior to breakfast every morning with a glass of water. Participants will be instructed to follow this dosing regimen throughout the entire three-month treatment period. Compliance with the dosing regimen will be monitored both through interview and by counting capsules left at monthly clinic visits. | Drug: microcrystalline cellulose<br>* Participants will be instructed to consume two capsules prior to breakfast every morning with a glass of water. Participants will be instructed to follow this dosing regimen throughout the entire three-month treatment period. Compliance with the dosing regimen will be monitored both through interview and by counting capsules left at monthly clinic visits.<br>* Other names: placebo;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Curcumin and Physical Function -Walking | To examine the effects of dietary supplementation with curcumin on changes in physical function walking speed- 400meter walk test. | Change in walking speed (meters/second) from Baseline and 3 months | 
| Curcumin and Physical Function - Hand Grip | To examine the effects of dietary supplementation with curcumin on changes in physical function grip strength- hand dynamometer | Change in grip strength (kilograms) from Baseline and 3 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Curcumin and Cognitive Function - Attention & Memory | To examine the effects of dietary supplementation with curcumin on cognitive performance mini-mental state examination. 30 points max. The lower, the worse score. | Change in attention from Baseline and 3 months | 
| Curcumin and Pain | To examine the effects of dietary supplementation with curcumin on pain symptoms (pain scale 0-10 with 10 being the worst) | Baseline and 3 months | 
| Curcumin and Inflammation - Interleukin-6 | To examine the effects of dietary supplementation with curcumin on markers of systemic inflammation Interleukin-6 (ng/ml) | From Baseline and 3 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Curcumin, physical function, cognitive function