Curcumin-Based Nanocarriers for Alzheimer’s Disease: A Promising Therapeutic Avenue

Globally, over 55 million people are affected by Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a number that is increasing rapidly and projected to triple by 2050. AD is a type of neurodegenerative disorder for which there is no curative treatment. The accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles are the hallmarks of AD. Curcumin, a bioactive compound extracted from turmeric rhizomes, has shown significant neuroprotective properties, including anti-amyloidogenic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and metal-chelating. Though much research has revealed the potential of curcumin as a promising therapeutic agent for AD, the limited bioavailability of curcumin restricts its effectiveness in pharmaceutical applications. To overcome this challenge, nanocarrier-based delivery systems have emerged as a promising strategy for enhancing the bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy of curcumin. This review provides an overview of recent findings on curcumin-based nanocarriers for AD therapy.