REVIEW article
Front. Aging Neurosci.
Sec. Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Brain-aging
Volume 17 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2025.1592280
Curcumin and neuroplasticity: Epigenetic mechanisms underlying cognitive enhancement in aging and neurodegenerative disorders
Provisionally accepted
- 1College of Chinese Medicine Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
- 2Jilin Agricultural Science and Technology College, Jilin, Jilin, China
- 3Dehui Employment Training Center, Dehui, Jilin, 130300, China, Dehui, China
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Aging and neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by cognitive decline, impaired neuroplasticity, and epigenetic dysregulation. Curcumin, a bioactive polyphenol derived from Curcuma longa, has gained significant attention for its neuroprotective properties, particularly in enhancing cognitive function through epigenetic mechanisms. This review explores the multifaceted role of curcumin in modulating key molecular pathways involved in neuroplasticity, including histone modifications, DNA methylation, and non-coding RNA regulation. Additionally, curcumin influences neurogenesis, synaptic remodeling, and mitochondrial biogenesis, which are critical for maintaining brain function in aging and neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. By targeting neuroinflammatory and oxidative stress pathways, curcumin further supports cognitive resilience and neuronal survival. We also discuss the therapeutic implications of curcumin as a potential epigenetic modulator and neurogenic agent, emphasizing its synergistic effects with lifestyle interventions such as physical activity and dietary strategies. Despite promising preclinical and clinical findings, challenges related to curcumin's bioavailability and translational efficacy remain. Future research should focus on optimizing delivery systems and exploring combination therapies to enhance curcumin's neuroprotective benefits. This review highlights curcumin as a promising candidate for promoting cognitive longevity and mitigating neurodegeneration through epigenetic reprogramming.
Keywords: Curcumin, DNA acetylation, non-coding RNAs, epigenetic, Neurodegenerative disorders
Received: 12 Mar 2025; Accepted: 16 Jul 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Gao, Jiao, Wang, Zhang and Zhou. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Feng Gao, College of Chinese Medicine Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
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