CLASSIFICATION OF HUMAN BRAIN PARTS USING PATTERN-RECOGNITION BASED ON INDUCTIVELY-COUPLED PLASMA-ATOMIC EMISSION-SPECTROSCOPY AND INSTRUMENTAL NEUTRON-ACTIVATION ANALYSIS

This project aims at investigating possible trace element changes in h istopathologically selected brain regions of patients with Alzheimer's disease (six individuals, ten brain parts). Determinations were carri ed out by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and instrumental neutron activation analysis. The main (Na, K, Mg, Ca, Fe, P, S) and trace (Al, B, Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr and Zn) elemen ts were investigated. Quality control was ensured by using Bovine Live r standard reference materials from the National Bureau of Standards. The results were graphically illustrated by means of cluster analysis dendrograms where classification of the subjects is effected by placin g them into homogeneous groups in a way that any relation between the groups is revealed. Our preliminary results indicate a possible correl ation of the brain Al and Zn concentrations (and the Sr, Ba, Cu conten ts in some brain parts) with Alzheimer's disease.