REVIEW ARTICLE
CURCUMIN SUPPLEMENTATION AS A POTENTIAL FACTOR INFLUENCING THE PROGRESSION OF PARKINSON’S DISEASE
1
Student Scientific Association of Neurology, Wrocław Medical University, Poland
2
Department of Neurology, University Center of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Wroclaw., Medical University, Wroclaw., Poland
Submission date: 2025-12-05
Final revision date: 2026-01-08
Acceptance date: 2026-01-09
Online publication date: 2026-05-22
Corresponding author
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. The number of affected people is increasing, still there is no curative agent. Dopamine replacement therapies such as levodopa remain the cornerstone of PD treatment, but prolonged use leads to dyskinesia and does not halt neurodegeneration. Epidemiologic data suggesting the lower incidence of PD among the Southeastern Asian population in comparison to Western populations, warrants detailed analysis of dietary tendencies and allopathic treatments that may partially contribute to such discrepancy. A product that is widely used within Southeast Asia is turmeric, containing curcumin – an extensively researched phytochemical. Curcumin has been proposed to alleviate PD symptoms and possibly slow disease progression through its multifaceted biological activities.
Aim:
This review examines the mechanisms by which curcumin may modulate the progression of PD, with emphasis on recently elucidated pathogenic pathways. Additionally, it summarizes the findings of clinical trials involving both animal and human subjects.
Material and methods:
Relevant literature – three human clinical studies and several animal investigations – was identified via PubMed and Google Scholar.
Results:
Curcumin was observed to attenuate dopaminergic denervation and motor dysfunctions in mice, while also improving the state of gastrointestinal barrier and possibly inhibiting ferroptosis in dopaminergic neurons of affected rodents. Moreover, curcumin mitigated pathological changes in the rat cerebellum, a structure recently associated with PD. Two human studies demonstrated improvements in non-motor symptoms, whereas the third one reported no significant alleviation of motor dysfunction by curcumin therapy.
Conclusions:
Data from animal studies indicate that curcumin has a mitigating effect on PD pathomechanisms such as oxidative stress, inflammation and ferroptosis, while also restoring gastrointestinal barrier. However, evidence from human studies is limited and inconclusive. Further investigation is required.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. The number of affected people is increasing, still there is no curative agent. Dopamine replacement therapies such as levodopa remain the cornerstone of PD treatment, but prolonged use leads to dyskinesia and does not halt neurodegeneration. Epidemiologic data suggesting the lower incidence of PD among the Southeastern Asian population in comparison to Western populations, warrants detailed analysis of dietary tendencies and allopathic treatments that may partially contribute to such discrepancy. A product that is widely used within Southeast Asia is turmeric, containing curcumin – an extensively researched phytochemical. Curcumin has been proposed to alleviate PD symptoms and possibly slow disease progression through its multifaceted biological activities.
Aim:
This review examines the mechanisms by which curcumin may modulate the progression of PD, with emphasis on recently elucidated pathogenic pathways. Additionally, it summarizes the findings of clinical trials involving both animal and human subjects.
Material and methods:
Relevant literature – three human clinical studies and several animal investigations – was identified via PubMed and Google Scholar.
Results:
Curcumin was observed to attenuate dopaminergic denervation and motor dysfunctions in mice, while also improving the state of gastrointestinal barrier and possibly inhibiting ferroptosis in dopaminergic neurons of affected rodents. Moreover, curcumin mitigated pathological changes in the rat cerebellum, a structure recently associated with PD. Two human studies demonstrated improvements in non-motor symptoms, whereas the third one reported no significant alleviation of motor dysfunction by curcumin therapy.
Conclusions:
Data from animal studies indicate that curcumin has a mitigating effect on PD pathomechanisms such as oxidative stress, inflammation and ferroptosis, while also restoring gastrointestinal barrier. However, evidence from human studies is limited and inconclusive. Further investigation is required.
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