Oral curcumin supplementation improves fine motor function in the middle-aged rhesus monkey

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Tara L. Moore, Boston University School of Medicine; Bethany G.E. Bowley, Boston University School of Medicine; Penny L. Shultz, Boston University School of Medicine; Samantha M. Calderazzo, Boston University School of Medicine; Eli J. Shobin, Boston University School of Medicine; Ajay R. Uprety, Boston University School of Medicine; Douglas Rosene, Emory University; Mark B. Moss, Boston University School of Medicine
• Language: English
• Date: 2018-03-01
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis: STM, Behavioural Science and Public Health Titles
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: 2018 Taylor and Francis
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08990220.2018.1432481
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Somatosensory and Motor Research
• ISSN: 0899-0220
• Volume: 35
• Issue: 1
• Start Page: 1
• End Page: 10
• Grant/Funding Information: This study was supported by National Institutes of Health – National Institute of Aging R01-AG043478 and R01-AG043640.
• Keywords: Macaca mulatta; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Animals; rhesus monkey; Female; Psychomotor Performance; inflammation; Behavior, Animal; Curcumin; motor function; Male
• Research Categories: Biology, Anatomy; Biology, Neuroscience

Abstract

Aged individuals experience decreased fine motor function of the hand and digits, which could result, in part, from the chronic, systemic state of inflammation that occurs with aging. Recent research for treating age-related inflammation has focused on the effects of nutraceuticals that have anti-inflammatory properties. One particular dietary polyphenol, curcumin, the principal curcuminoid of the spice turmeric, has been shown to have significant anti-inflammatory effects and there is mounting evidence that curcumin may serve to reduce systemic inflammation. Therefore, it could be useful for alleviating age-related impairments in fine motor function. To test this hypothesis we assessed the efficacy of a dietary intervention with a commercially available optimized curcumin to ameliorate or delay the effects of aging on fine motor function of the hand of rhesus monkeys. We administered oral daily doses of curcumin or a control vehicle to 11 monkeys over a 14- to 18-month period in which they completed two rounds of fine motor function testing. The monkeys receiving curcumin were significantly faster at retrieving a food reward by round 2 of testing than monkeys receiving a control vehicle. Further, the monkeys receiving curcumin demonstrated a greater degree of improvement in performance on our fine motor task by round 2 of testing than monkeys receiving a control vehicle. These findings reveal that fine motor function of the hand and digits is improved in middle-aged monkeys receiving chronic daily administration of curcumin.