Turmeric compound tested as eye scanner for Alzheimer's
NCT ID NCT05774704
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This pilot study is testing whether taking curcumin (the active ingredient in turmeric) for two weeks can cross into the brain and attach to amyloid beta proteins, which are linked to Alzheimer's disease. Researchers will use eye imaging to detect these proteins and also check how curcumin affects the gut microbiome. The study involves 60 adults aged 40-89 who have amyloid deposits in their retina.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- curcumin
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could point toward a way to detect or monitor Alzheimer's disease using a simple eye test.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early, small pilot study (60 people) testing feasibility, not effectiveness. Curcumin is poorly absorbed, and results may not lead to any treatment.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Phase 1/2
Runs two stages together: safety and dose first, then whether the treatment works.
- Participants
-
About 60 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
-
Aug 2023
- Expected to finish
-
Dec 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
40 to 89 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion: * Both male and female, age 40 - 89 years. * Diagnosed with Aβ deposits in retina (peripheral superior quadrants)--to be confirmed after consent obtained. If there is documentation the potential participant has been diagnosed with Aβ deposits in retina within 6 months before the consent session, we will use this diagnosis/documentation for eligibility criteria. Otherwise, the ophthalmic exam will be repeated after consent is obtained for the study. * No pre-existing liver or kidney diseases by self-report. Exclusion: * Patients with ocular diseases (macular degeneration, severe diabetes retinopathy) * Had used systemic antibiotics within 1 month prior to the start of the study intervention * Had taken any turmeric or curcumin products within 2 weeks prior to the start of the study intervention * Had a known allergy to black pepper * Women that are pregnant or breastfeeding
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Alzheimer disease are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
-
The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
-
The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
-
A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
RECRUITINGLubbock, Texas, 79430, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can a massive data registry crack the code of Parkinson's and related brain diseases?
- Can a gentle electric current calm the mind in Alzheimer's?
- Alzheimer's vaccine aims to clear amyloid before memory fades
- Blood, eye, and brain scans team up to spot Alzheimer's earlier
- Can a home device slow Alzheimer's? pilot study tests pulsed electromagnetic therapy
- Eye scans as a window to the body: study probes retinal imaging across diseases