Curcumin attenuates surgery-induced cognitive dysfunction in aged mice.

Abstract

Post-operative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is associated with elderly patients undergoing surgery. However, pharmacological treatments for POCD are limited. In this study, we found that curcumin, an active compound derived from Curcuma longa, ameliorated the cognitive dysfunction following abdominal surgery in aged mice. Further, curcumin prevented surgery-induced anti-oxidant enzyme activity. Curcumin also increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-positive area and expression of pAkt in the brain, suggesting that curcumin activated BDNF signaling in aged mice. Furthermore, curcumin neutralized cholinergic dysfunction involving choline acetyltransferase expression induced by surgery. These results strongly suggested that curcumin prevented cognitive impairments via multiple targets, possibly by increasing the activity of anti-oxidant enzymes, activation of BDNF signaling, and neutralization of cholinergic dysfunction, concurrently. Based on these novel findings, curcumin might be a potential agent in POCD prophylaxis and treatment.

• Authors: Xiang Wu, Huixin Chen, Chunhui Huang, Xinmei Gu, Jialing Wang, Dilin Xu, Xin Yu, Chu Shuai, Liping Chen, Shun Li, Yiguo Xu, Tao Gao, Mingrui Ye, Wei Su, Haixiong Liu, Jinrong Zhang, Chuang Wang, Junping Chen, Qinwen Wang, Wei Cui
• Journal: Metabolic brain disease (Metab Brain Dis) Vol. 32 Issue 3 Pg. 789-798 (06 2017) ISSN: 1573-7365 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 28224377 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
• Curcumin

Topics

• Aging (drug effects, metabolism, psychology)
• Animals
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Cognitive Dysfunction (drug therapy, metabolism, psychology)
• Curcumin (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Male
• Maze Learning (drug effects, physiology)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred ICR
• Postoperative Complications (drug therapy, metabolism, psychology)
• Recognition, Psychology (drug effects, physiology)