SERUM ALUMINUM LEVELS IN ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE AND OTHER SENILE DEMENTIAS

The exact cause of Alzheimer's disease and the part played in it by al uminum is still speculative. We have studied serum aluminum in 356 hea lthy people, and we have observed that serum aluminum concentration is increased in aging people in relation to age. We suggest that this co uld be associated with an enhanced gastric permeability or by an incre ase in metal accumulation proportional to age. We have measured serum aluminum levels in patients with probable Alzheimer's disease, patient s with other senile dementias, and age-matched group. Patients with pr obable Alzheimer's disease have statistically significant higher serum aluminum levels than patients with other types of senile dementias (a lcoholic, vascular, multi-infart) and an age-matched control group. Wh en we compare serum aluminum of patients with senile dementias from ot her causes with the age-matched control group, we do not find signific ant differences.