HYPOTHESIS - IS ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE A METAL-INDUCED IMMUNE DISORDER

A hypothesis that a metal-induced immune disorder may be involved in t he pathogenesis of some forms of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is presented . The classical complement pathway is activated in AD and T cells and reactive microglia appear in the brain. Studies of metal induced autoi mmunity and the use of compounds containing aluminium as vaccine adjuv ants suggest that metals can activate complement and can be taken up b y antigen presenting cells. The consequent immune response could contr ibute to neuronal damage, P-amyloid deposition and cell death. The str engths and weaknesses of this hypothesis are discussed and tests of so me aspects are proposed.