Author: Ehmann WD, Markesbery WR, Alauddin M, Hossain TI, Brubaker EH.
Source: Neurotoxicology.
Year: 1986
Comment:
While dental mercury is not a topic in this study, the research examines the potential role of mercury and other elements in Alzheimer's disease.
Abstract / Excerpt:
“Instrumental neutron activation analysis has been used to determine the concentrations of 16 elements in selected brain regions and separated gray- and white-matter specimens from histologically verified Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and age-matched control patients. Significantly different (p less than 0.05) mean concentrations of Br, Cl, Cs, Hg, N, Na, P, and Rb were observed in AD bulk brain samples compared to controls, while no significant differences were observed for Ag, Co, Cr, Fe, K, Sb, Sc, and Se. The differences that are most persistent and largest in magnitude for the pooled bulk samples, males and females, left and right hemispheres, and separated gray and white matter are the elevation of Br and Hg and the depletion of Rb in AD compared to controls. Significant interelement correlations for the latter elements in both AD and control brains are also documented. Based on these studies, the possibility of an etiological role for trace elements in AD clearly deserves further investigation.”
Citation:
Ehmann WD, Markesbery WR, Alauddin M, Hossain TI, Brubaker EH. Brain trace elements in Alzheimer's disease. Neurotoxicology. 1986; 7(1):195.