World-renowned neuroscientist and psychiatrist Dr. Gary W. Small, head of the UCLA aging research institute, gave a lecture as a special speaker at the 2018 Spring Symposium sponsored by the Korean Association for Dementia (www.silverweb.or.kr).

At the symposium, which was held at the Hyochang Park Kimkoo museum in Seoul on the 26th, a total of 200 people, including Korean and foreign speakers, attended to discuss “Preventing dementia, cerebral cortex sensation (cognitive sensation of sleep)  動 知 眠 食 感,” showing a great interest in the subject of dementia prevention.

Dr. Gary Small, a special invited speaker, gave a talk on the potential effects of curcumin on cognitive deterioration associated with aging.

In his presentation, he introduced clinical trials results on the effect of Theracurmin on memory, attention and depression in non-dementia elderly people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). It was in essence the same presentation he had given at the International Alzheimer’s Society conference in 2017 of the study that was published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry in January.

Dr. Gary Small explained the 18-month study that was conducted on a total of 40 men and women aged 51 to 84 years old undergoing normal aging or experiencing mild cognitive impairment. The results revealed that the Theracurmin group, which took Theracurmin® (curcumin 90mg) twice daily showed an improvement in the SRT Consistent Long-Term Retrieval scores, attention test and Beck Depression Inventory Score compared to the placebo group.

“Recent studies have shown that healthy nutritional choices, such as curcumin (Theracumin) may have a positive impact on brain health,” said Dr. Gary Small. He added, “For more accurate results, we are planning to carry on further researches on more people, and we will be able to analyze whether the effect of Theracumin on memory improvement depends on the genetic risk of Alzheimer’s disease, age and a degree of cognitive deficit.”

On the other hand, seven Korean experts also gave lectures at the symposium. Professor Kyungmin Lee of the Seoul National University Department of Neurology said, “In order to improve brain health we need to strengthen neural networks in the brain through exercise and improve microcirculation in the brain through regulation of cardiopulmonary function and stress management. Professor Yeonhee Kim of the Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine Department of Rehabilitation Medicine emphasized in her presentation on brain plasticity and brain reserve capacity of old age that, “In order to prevent Alzheimer’s disease, daily exercise, management of chronic diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes, and maintenance of active social relations are important.”