Cognitive Effects of Bioavailable Curcumin

NIH TOOLBOX computerized set of cognitive tests

Short Form 20a is a standardized questionnaire designed to assess an individual's self-reported cognitive abilities and problems over the past 7 days. It includes 20 items and is part of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measure. The instrument produces a T-score standardized to the PROMIS metric. T-scores typically range from 20 to 80, with a population mean of 50 and standard deviation of 10.

Measured by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). A 21-item self-report questionnaire assessing the severity of depressive symptoms. Total scores range from 0 to 63, with higher scores indicating more severe depression (i.e., a worse outcome).

(to ensure adherence to protocol)

such as, TNF-α, C-reactive protein

such as fasting glucose, insulin, C-peptide, glucagon, glucose-dependent-insulinotropic-polypeptide (GIP), HbA1C, and HOMA-IR index and lipid markers

Quality of life, SF-36: The SF-36 is a multi-purpose survey designed to capture adult patients' perceptions of their own health and well-being. It measures each of the following eight health domains: physical functioning, role-physical, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role-emotional, and mental health (about 15 minutes).

Body composition will be assessed using an InBody bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) device.

APOE-4 carrier status will be determined through genetic testing to identify whether participants possess at least one copy of the APOE 4 allele, a genetic risk factor associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: PSQI will be employed to assess sleep quality. The PSQI is a widely recognized self-report questionnaire that evaluates sleep quality over a one-month interval. The PSQI comprises 19 self-rated items and an additional 5 items rated by bed partners or roommates. The self-rated items are used to calculate the total score, which ranges from 0 to 21. Each item on the PSQI is scored on a scale of 0 to 3, with 3 reflecting the highest level of dysfunction or disturbance. The scores of these items are then summed to compute a global PSQI score. A global PSQI score greater than 5 suggests significant sleep difficulties. A higher total score is indicative of poorer sleep quality.

Fatigue (as assessed by PROMIS-Fatigue Scale, Short Form 8 items): The NIH developed the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®). The PROMIS Fatigue scale assesses a range of self-reported symptoms, from mild subjective feelings of tiredness to an overwhelming, debilitating, and sustained sense of exhaustion that likely decreases one's ability to execute daily activities and function normally in family or social roles. Fatigue is divided into the experience of fatigue (frequency, duration, and intensity) and the impact of fatigue on physical, mental, and social activities. The fatigue short forms are universal rather than disease-specific and assess fatigue over the past seven days (5 minutes).

The Trail Making Test (TMT) is one of the most popular neuropsychological tests and is included in most test batteries. The TMT provides information on visual search, scanning, speed of processing, mental flexibility, and executive functions.

The Verbal Fluency Test, consisting of the FAS, PRW, and CFL phonemic fluency subtests, will be administered across three distinct time points to reduce practice effects and to allow for a more reliable assessment of longitudinal change in executive function and lexical retrieval. Administering different letter sets at each visit minimizes familiarity with specific stimuli and provides a more valid evaluation of verbal generativity and cognitive flexibility over time.

The Category Fluency Test, including the Animal Naming, Fruits and Vegetables Naming, and Cities and Towns Naming subtests, will be administered across three time points to assess semantic fluency while minimizing practice effects. Using a different semantic category at each visit reduces familiarity with specific item sets and provides a more accurate longitudinal measure of semantic memory retrieval, lexical access, and executive functioning.