Curcumin and Function in Older Adults

Inclusion Criteria:

- Age > 65 years

- Usual walking speed <1 m/sec and >0.44 m/sec on the 4 m walk

- Sedentary lifestyle (< 120 min per week of moderate intensity physical activity);

- CRP > 1.0 mg/dL

- Willingness and ability to give informed consent

- Willingness to be randomized to the intervention groups

- Availability for participation through duration of study

Exclusion Criteria:

Exclusion Criteria (General)

- Unable to complete 400 meter walk test

- Failure or inability to provide informed consent

- Residence in a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF); residence in an Assisted Living
Facility (ALF) or independent housing is allowed

- Self-reported inability to walk one block

- Blood pressure readings >160/100

- Significant cognitive impairment, defined as a known diagnosis of dementia, or a
Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) score <24

- Unable to communicate because of severe hearing loss or speech disorder

- Clinically significant depression (CES-D score > 20)

- Severe cardiac disease, including NYHA Class III or IV congestive heart failure,
clinically significant aortic stenosis, history of cardiac arrest, use of a cardiac
defibrillator, or uncontrolled angina

- Severe pulmonary disease, pneumonitis or interstitial lung disease

- Severe rheumatologic or orthopedic diseases (e.g., awaiting joint replacement, active
inflammatory disease)

- Neurological conditions that cause impaired muscle function or mobility (e.g.,
Parkinson's Disease, multiple sclerosis, ALS)

- Other significant co-morbid medical disease (e.g. renal failure with eGFR < 30
ml/minute or on hemodialysis) or severe psychiatric disorder (e.g. bipolar,
schizophrenia)

- Terminal illness with life expectancy less than 12 months, as determined by a
physician

- Excessive alcohol use, defined as more than 5 drinks/day for males or more than 4
drinks/day for females, or more than 14 drinks per week

- Current smoker or less than 3 years smoking cessation

- Participating in another clinical trial or receiving an investigational product within
3 months prior to screening/enrollment

Exclusion Criteria (Curcumin-related)

- Diabetes mellitus currently taking medications to lower blood glucose (oral or by
injection)

- Current use of anticoagulant or anti-platelet medications (aspirin 81 mg daily is
allowed)

- Congenital or acquired bleeding disorders

- Cholelithiasis or other gall bladder or biliary tract disease

- Chronic gastrointestinal blood loss or iron deficiency (serum ferritin < 12 ng/mL,
with or without anemia)

- History of estrogen-sensitive conditions including breast, uterine, and ovarian
cancers; endometriosis; and uterine fibroids

- History of Tuberculosis (TB), HIV, Hepatitis B or C, or other disease potentially
compromising immune function

- Current use of medications targeting immune or inflammatory function (e.g.,
sulfasalazine)

- Current use of anabolic medications (i.e., growth hormones or testosterone),
antidepressant medications and antipsychotic agents (including monoamine oxidase
inhibitors), or anticholinesterase inhibitors (i.e., Aricept)

Temporary Exclusion Criteria

- Acute infection (urinary, respiratory, other) or hospitalization within 1 month

- Myocardial infarction, CABG, or valve replacement within past 6 months

- Pulmonary embolism or deep venous thrombosis within past 6 months

- Stroke, hip fracture, hip or knee replacement, or spinal surgery within past 4 months

- Receiving physical therapy for gait, balance, or other lower extremity training