Alzheimer's Disease and Aluminium

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Aluminium is present in the earth's crust in huge amount, mainly in the form of insoluble aluminium silicates. It is scarce in the human body which contain only 30-50 mg of that metal. This is due to the insolubility of aluminium, the presence of a barrier in the gastro-intestinal tract to soluble forms of aluminium, and the ability of the kidneys to excrete aluminium effectively in healthy people. Aluminium is present in food occurs in additives, tea which is rich in aluminium, and drinking water which is treated with aluminium to remove organic residues. Aluminium is also present in large amounts in medications such as antacids or compound aspirin products. Most of the aluminium in plasma is bound to the iron-transporting protein transferrin. Aluminium accumulates in areas of the brain with the highest concentration of transferrin receptors such as the cortex, hippocampus and amygdala; the same areas vulnerable to the development of Alzhiemer disease. The distribution of Aluminium in the brain reflects the neurones with the highest requirements for iron. The entry of aluminium into the brain mediated through transferrin. The issue of aluminium as cause for Alzheimer's disease has been contentious. In special circumstances such as renal failure and massive exposure to aluminium in certain occupations aluminium may cause brain pathology similar to Alzheimer Disease. However, there is no definite evidence of the role of this metal in the causation or development of Alzheimer disease. Some cases of Presenile Alzheimer disease (occurring before the age of 65) run in families and are associated with mutation in the beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene implicated in Alzheimer Disease. Elderly cases of Alzheimer disease ... ... middle of paper ... ...lation between Alzheimer's disease and aluminium in drinking water: CN Martyn, C Osmond, JA Edwardson, DJP Barker… - The Lancet, 1989 Absence of aluminium in neuritic plaque cores in Alzheimer's disease : JP Landsberg, B McDonald… - 1992 - nature. Selective accumulation of aluminum and iron in the neurofibrillary tangles of Alzheimer's disease: a laser microprobe (LAMMA) study : PF Good, DP Perl, LM Bierer… - Annals of [HTML] Metabolism and possible health effects of aluminum.from nih.gov PO Ganrot - Environmental Health Perspectives, 1986 - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Brain-aluminium concentration in dialysis encephalopathy: JR McDermott, AI Smith, MK Ward, IS Parkinson… - The Lancet, 1978 - Elsevier Aluminium as a risk factor in Alzheimer's disease, with emphasis on drinking water: from anti-cancer.fr TP Flaten - Brain Research Bulletin, 2001 - Elsevier

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