Curcumin, the major yellow pigment in turmeric (Curcuma longa), is a well-documented naturally-occurring anti-oxidant with numerous pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic and anti-bacterial effects. In this study, curcumin's neuroprotective effect was carefully examined using a coculture system, based on reports that curcumin-containing plants are neuroprotective. Coculturing neuronal cells and activated microglial cells enhanced dopamine-induced neuronal cell death from 30% up to 50%. However, curcumin did not protect dopamine-directed neuronal cell death and sodium nitroprosside (SNP)-induced NO generation, but only blocked activated microglial cell-mediated neuronal cell damage under inflammatory conditions. Indeed, curcumin blocked the production of pro-inflammatory and cytotoxic mediators such as NO, TNF-alpha, IL-1alpha, and IL-6 produced from Abeta(25-35)/IFN-gamma- and LPS-stimulated microglia, in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, our results suggest that curcumin-mediated neuroprotective effects may be mostly due to its anti-inflammatory effects.

For thousands of years, human beings have engaged in rhythmic activities such as drumming, dancing, and singing. Rhythm can be a powerful medium to stimulate communication and social interactions, due to the strong sensorimotor coupling. For example, the mere presence of an underlying beat or pulse can result in spontaneous motor responses such as hand clapping, foot stepping, and rhythmic vocalizations. Examining the relationship between rhythm and speech is fundamental not only to our understanding of the origins of human communication but also in the treatment of neurological disorders. In this paper, we explore whether rhythm has therapeutic potential for promoting recovery from speech and language dysfunctions. Although clinical studies are limited to date, existing experimental evidence demonstrates rich rhythmic organization in both music and language, as well as overlapping brain networks that are crucial in the design of rehabilitation approaches. Here, we propose the"SEP"hypothesis, which postulates that (1)"sound envelope processing"and (2)"synchronization and entrainment to pulse"may help stimulate brain networks that underlie human communication. Ultimately, we hope that the SEP hypothesis will provide a useful framework for facilitating rhythm-based research in various patient populations.