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