Have you ever stopped to wonder just how marvelous the human brain is? It's the control center of every thought we think, emotion we feel, and action we take –  all triggered by an intricate web of billions of neurons firing away. But what happens when this remarkable organ faces challenges and goes off course?

This is the frightening and life-altering reality for those struggling with a group of conditions known as neurological disorders. And the secret to fighting back against these diseases might just lie in a tiny compound known as curcumin.

Today we’re going to explore what neurological conditions are, what causes them, how curcumin can help, and most importantly – the best way to incorporate this mighty molecule into your life. Let’s dive in.

What Is A Neurological Disorder?

A neurological disorder is an umbrella term that encompasses a wide range of disorders affecting what’s known as your nervous system.  Your nervous system is a complex network of cells and tissues that includes your brain, spinal cord, and countless nerves that branch out to connect with all of the muscles, organs, and sensory receptors throughout your body.¹ 

Your nervous system plays a crucial role in controlling and coordinating every function throughout your body – from breathing and digesting food to your ability to feel pain, and from your thoughts and emotions to your ability to walk, and everything in between.

Neurological diseases can affect any part of your nervous system. Exactly what region of your nervous system is impacted will determine the symptoms you might experience.

What Are the Symptoms of A Neurological Disease?

Your nervous system is incredibly complex – with billions of neurons interconnected in intricate networks. And because it controls a wide range of functions (from basic reflexes to high-level cognitive processes), any disruption or damage within this complex system can trigger a host of widespread and varying symptoms. The specific location of damage or dysfunction within the nervous system plays a significant role in determining the symptoms which can include:^2,3 

• Cognitive and behavioral symptoms: Like memory problems, changes in mood or personality, impaired judgment, difficulty concentrating, and even hallucinations or delusions
• Motor symptoms: Such as tremors, lack of balance or coordination, weakness, paralysis, difficulty with fine motor skills, and/ abnormal muscle tone 
• Sensory symptoms: Which can include things like numbness or tingling, difficulty feeling temperature or touch, altered perception of pain and other sensory input, visual disturbances, and/or hearing problems
• Speech and language symptoms: Like slurred speech, difficulty forming words or sentences, inability to express thoughts verbally, and/or or repetitive or involuntary speech 
• Seizures and convulsions: Including sudden, uncontrolled muscle contractions and potential loss of consciousness during seizures
• Pain and headache symptoms: Neurological disorders can trigger chronic or severe headaches, or unexplained pain in the nerves in your face, spine, or other areas of your body
• Autonomic dysfunction: Like changes in blood pressure and heart rate, digestive problems, bladder dysfunction, and/or abnormal temperature regulation

Again, your nervous system is highly complex and interwoven throughout every single tissue of your body. Meaning exactly what symptoms appear can be highly unique to each and every individual. With that being said, there are some neurological diseases that often present with distinct changes to your nervous system and trigger specific symptoms. 

Let’s zoom in on some of the more common neurological disorders.

What Are the Most Common Neurological Diseases?

Some of the most commonly seen neurological disorders include:^4,5

• Alzheimer's disease and other dementias: Characterized by progressive cognitive decline, memory loss, and changes in behavior and personality. 
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): Also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that can lead to muscle weakness and paralysis.
• Epilepsy and seizures: Epilepsy and seizures result from abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
• Huntington's disease: Characterized by involuntary movements, cognitive decline, and psychiatric symptoms.
• Multiple sclerosis (MS): An autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system – causing a wide range of symptoms, including fatigue, muscle weakness, numbness, and problems with coordination and balance.
• Parkinson's disease: A neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement and can lead to symptoms like tremors, stiffness, bradykinesia (slowness of movement), and postural instability.
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI): Head injuries can lead to a range of neurological symptoms, including headaches, memory problems, and changes in mood and behavior.

So, how exactly can your neurological system become disrupted to the point of developing these complex and life-altering conditions?

What Causes Neurological Diseases?

Oftentimes, neurological diseases don’t necessarily stem from a singular cause (with the exception of a traumatic brain injury which is usually traced back to a specific incident). Rather, most stem from a multitude of underlying factors that, together, create the perfect storm for the onset and progression of neurological conditions. These underlying root causes can include:⁶

• Neuroinflammation: Neuroinflammation is exactly what it sounds like – inflammation of your nervous system. Chronic neuroinflammation can contribute to neuronal damage and lead to oxidative stress.
• Oxidative stress and antioxidant deficiency: Oxidative stress occurs when there's an imbalance between unstable free radicals and the antioxidants that neutralize them – leading to damaged neurons and degeneration of nervous system tissues.
• Mitochondrial dysfunction: Mitochondria are the energy-producing organelles in cells. Dysfunction in mitochondria can lead to energy deficits in neurons, making them more susceptible to damage and degeneration.
• Depletion of neurotrophins: Neurotrophins are growth factors that support the survival and maintenance of neurons. Depletion of neurotrophins can lead to neuronal death and hinder the repair and regeneration of your nervous system.
• Accumulation of misfolded proteins: Misfolded proteins within the brain can disrupt normal cellular function when they accumulate in brain tissue. If too many misfolded proteins are produced, or they are not adequately broken down and removed via what’s known as proteasome complexes, these proteins can build-up and become problematic.

These factors are often interconnected and can lead to a cascade of events that contribute to neurological diseases. So, now that you have an understanding of the underlying imbalances that can lead to neurological conditions, you’re probably wondering if there is a cure that can restore balance to your nervous system.

Can Neurological Diseases Be Cured?

The answer to that question is – not exactly. As of now, there isn’t  a “cure” for neurological conditions in the sense that you can take medication or undergo a procedure and no longer have the underlying condition. But that doesn’t mean you’re simply at the mercy of your diagnosis.

The good news is, there are lots of steps you can take to slow down, halt, or even reverse some of the underlying damage seen in neurological conditions. And one such way is by incorporating a powerful compound known as curcumin.

What Is Curcumin?

Curcumin is a natural chemical compound found in the root of the turmeric plant – a spice commonly used in Indian and Southeast Asian cuisines known for its vibrant yellow color.

Curcumin has attracted significant attention in recent years due to its potential health benefits and medicinal properties. 

And it’s been garnering more and more attention for its potential abilities to help in the management of neurological disorders. 

What Does Curcumin Do to the Brain? How Curcumin Can Help Neurological Disorders

When ingested, curcumin has the ability to cross your blood brain barrier (the barrier that controls the passage of substances from the bloodstream into the brain) where it exerts some remarkable effects including:⁶ 

• Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects: Curcumin has potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties – allowing it to pump the brakes on inflammation, neutralize harmful free radicals, and halt further oxidative damage.
• Neuroprotection: Curcumin may provide neuroprotection by promoting the survival of neurons and preventing their degeneration. This effect is particularly relevant in conditions like Alzheimer's disease, where neurons are progressively lost.
• Beta-amyloid and tau protein reduction: In Alzheimer's disease, the brain accumulates misfolded proteins (like beta-amyloid plaques and tau proteins). Curcumin has been shown to potentially reduce the accumulation and aggregation of these proteins – thus slowing the progression of the disease.
• Promotion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and enhanced neurogenesis: Curcumin may enhance the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a protein that supports the growth, survival, and functioning of neurons as well as promote neurogenesis – the generation of new neurons.
• Neurotransmitter modulation: Neurotransmitters are chemical substances that transmit signals or messages between nerve cells in your nervous system. Curcumin may be able to positively impact the release and reuptake of certain neurotransmitters in your brain.
• Enhanced blood flow and vasodilation: Curcumin may improve blood flow and promote vasodilation (widening of blood vessels), which can support brain health by ensuring an adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients to brain cells.

With such impressive brain-boosting effects, it’s no wonder that curcumin is quickly earning a place in the realm of addressing neurological disorders. So how can you best go about incorporating this incredible nutrient into your routine?

What Is the Best Way to Take Curcumin?

It can certainly be healthy to incorporate more curcumin-containing turmeric in your diet. But the truth is, you’d have to eat unrealistic amounts of turmeric to truly tap into the neuroprotective power of curcumin. For that reason, curcumin is best taken in supplement form. My all-time favorite supplements that contain a concentrated dose of this remarkable compound include:

• Omega Curcumin: Omega curcomin contains a highly bioavailable curcuminoid and turmeric essential oil extract paired with a hefty dose of omega-3 fatty acids – packing a powerful punch when it comes to supporting brain function and reducing inflammation.
• Super Tumeric: An exclusive blend of bioactive phytonutrients including not only a hefty dose of curcumin, but a well-rounded blend of other turmeric phytonutrients to make up the complete turmeric matrix.
• Resveramax: This unique combination turmeric melded with truebroc™, andrographis, and resveratrol supercharges your antioxidant levels – protecting your brain from harmful free radicals and supporting normal inflammatory balance.
• Cyto-BLOX: Cyto-BLOX is formulated with a blend of natural ingredients, like turmeric, skullcap and bee propolis – all selected for their impressive ability to mitigate inflammation and promote a balanced immune response.

You can find all of these curcumin-containing supplements through my online store. You can even get 15% off any order over $400. 

Ready to Tap Into the Brain-Boosting Power of Curcumin?

Whether you’ve been recently diagnosed with a neurological disorder, have been managing an ongoing neurological condition, or simply want to stack the deck in your favor when it comes to preventing one of these life-altering diseases – curcumin might be worthwhile to add to your wellness routine. Incorporating this powerhouse nutrient into your daily regimen is like adding another weapon in your arsenal to fight back against the development and progression of neurological disorders.

And it’s the accumulation of these “weapons” or small day-to-day choices that add up and give us an edge in actually winning the war against progressive conditions like neurological diseases. So if you’re ready to tap into the power of curcumin while continuing to strengthen your defenses against disease, my blog and YouTube channel are chock-full of science-backed and practical resources to help you do just that. 

Plus, I drop new helpful content every single week – so be sure to sign up for my newsletter so you don’t miss a thing. And if you need a little inspiration or reminder that you’re not alone and that there is light at the end of the tunnel, I encourage you to grab a copy of my new book Unexpected: Finding Resilience Through Functional Medicine, Science, and Faith. In it, I detail the exact strategies I’ve used to transform my health, happiness, and entire life from the inside out – and how you can too.

Resources:

1. Nervous System Diseases | Neurologic Diseases | MedlinePlus
2. Overview of Nervous System Disorders | Johns Hopkins Medicine
3. Functional neurologic disorder/conversion disorder – Symptoms & causes – Mayo Clinic
4. Neurological Disorders | Johns Hopkins Medicine
5. Most common neurological disorders | ABC Medical Center (centromedicoabc.com)
6. Curcumin, inflammation, and neurological disorders: How are they linked? – ScienceDirect