Professor David Nutt has been appointed to the newly created Edmond J. Safra Chair in Neuropsychopharmacology and as head of the new Department of Neuropsychopharmacology and Molecular Imaging. The chair was funded by the Edmond J. Safra Philanthropic Foundation and Lily Safra. The department is the joint effort of Imperial College and the Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust.

Nutt’s particular expertise is in how brain circuitry works, particularly as regards anxiety, depression and addiction. He said would like to use advanced PET scanning techniques to have pilot studies under way for new treatments in five years.

Researchers have long looked at plaque in the brain built up by amyloid proteins as a cause of Alzheimer’s. Nutt said he hopes to examine the role inflammation might play in the poorly understood process of why the plaque builds up.

In earlier research, Nutt demonstrated faults in the brain’s main systems inhibiting brain signals in those suffering from alcoholism or severe anxiety.

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The ingredient, curcumin, is found in turmeric, which gives curry its yellow color.

“Indian communities that regularly eat curcumin have a surprisingly low incidence of Alzheimer’s, but we do not know why,” said Amrit Mudher lead researcher on the project for the university. “Part of our research will investigate how curcumin may help protect the brain and prevent the disease.”

The goal of the research will be to see if scientists can head off some of the changes that occur in the brain and which are commonly associated with Alzheimer’s disease by using drugs with curcumin. The research will be conducted on fruit flies that have been geneticall altered to exhibit the brain changes seen in Alzheimer’s patients.

This won’t be the first time curcumin has been investigated for medicinal uses. It is already sold throughout the west as a dietary supplement. Additionally, scientists have researched it for possible effectiveness in preventing breast cancer from spreading to the lungs.

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