ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE, KUFS-DISEASE, TELLURIUM AND SELENIUM

The possible role of the abnormal trace element tellurium in the patho genesis of Alzheimer's disease is examined. Tellurium has been reporte d to produce cognitive impairment and cerebral lipofuscinosis in rats - changes akin to those seen in Kufs disease, a condition which shares certain clinical and neuropathological features with Alzheimer's dise ase. Tellurium can damage mitochondria; defects in mitochondrial energ y metabolism may be relevant to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disease. The deficiency of selenium, which may act physiologically as an antagonist of tellurium, in the Alzheimer's disease brain would als o be in keeping with the hypothesis of tellurium toxicity as a factor in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.