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Nanoencapsulated Curcumin: Enhanced Efficacy in Reversing Memory Loss in An Alzheimer Disease Model
Savall ASP, de Mello JD, Fidelis EM, Comis-Neto AA, Nepomuceno MR, Pacheco CO, Haas SE, Pinton S.. Brain sciences, 2024-01-26
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Investigating new drugs or formulations that target Alzheimer disease (AD) is critical for advancing therapeutic interventions. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effectiveness of nanoencapsulated curcumin (NC Curc) in alleviating memory impairment, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation in a validated AD model. Male Wistar rats were given bilateral intracerebroventricular injections of either saline or streptozotocin (STZ) (3 mg/3 µL/site) to establish the AD model (day 0). On day 22, daily oral administrations of curcumin (6 mg/kg), NC Curc (6 mg/kg), or a vehicle (unloaded NC) were initiated and continued for 14 days. NC Curc significantly reversed memory deficits in object recognition and inhibitory avoidance tests induced by STZ. Both formulations of curcumin attenuated elevated acetylcholinesterase activity caused by STZ. Importantly, NC Curc alone effectively mitigated STZ-induced oxidative stress. Additionally, NC Curc treatment normalized GFAP levels, suggesting a potential reduction in neuroinflammation in STZ-treated rats. Our findings indicate that NC Curc improves memory in an AD rat model, highlighting its enhanced therapeutic effects compared to unencapsulated curcumin. This research significantly contributes to understanding the therapeutic and neurorestorative potential of NC Curc in AD, particularly in reversing pathophysiological changes.
Key findings
- NC Curc significantly reversed memory deficits in object recognition and inhibitory avoidance tests induced by STZ.
- Our findings indicate that NC Curc improves memory in an AD rat model, highlighting its enhanced therapeutic effects compared to unencapsulated curcumin.
- This research significantly contributes to understanding the therapeutic and neurorestorative potential of NC Curc in AD, particularly in reversing pathophysiological changes.
Why it matters
In a rat model of Alzheimer disease, nanoencapsulated curcumin reversed memory deficits and reduced measures of oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. This is animal research and does not establish that this formulation treats or prevents Alzheimer disease in people.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 38/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Brain sciences) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Brain Sciences: journal h-index 115 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2024 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 23 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 5.8 citations a year over 4 year(s) since 2024 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 23 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Simone Pinton: h-index 26 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Universidade Federal do Pampa: institution h-index 128 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 38391705) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 38 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Savall, A. S. P., de Mello, J. D., Fidelis, E. M., Comis-Neto, A. A., Nepomuceno, M. R., Pacheco, C. O., et al. (2024). Nanoencapsulated Curcumin: Enhanced Efficacy in Reversing Memory Loss in An Alzheimer Disease Model. Brain sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci14020130
Vancouver
Savall ASP, de Mello JD, Fidelis EM, Comis-Neto AA, Nepomuceno MR, Pacheco CO, et al. Nanoencapsulated Curcumin: Enhanced Efficacy in Reversing Memory Loss in An Alzheimer Disease Model. Brain sciences. 2024. doi:10.3390/brainsci14020130. PMID: 38391705.
BibTeX
@article{savall2024-38391705,
author = {Savall, A. S. P. and de Mello, J. D. and Fidelis, E. M. and Comis-Neto, A. A. and Nepomuceno, M. R. and Pacheco, C. O. and Haas, S. E. and Pinton, S.},
title = {{Nanoencapsulated Curcumin: Enhanced Efficacy in Reversing Memory Loss in An Alzheimer Disease Model}},
journal = {Brain sciences},
year = {2024},
doi = {10.3390/brainsci14020130},
pmid = {38391705},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci14020130}
}
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