CADMIUM IN BLOOD IN ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE AND NONDEMENTED SUBJECTS - RESULTS FROM A POPULATION-BASED STUDY

Blood cadmium concentrations were studied in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and non-demented subjects. The 29 individuals were randomized from the ongoing population survey on ageing and dementia in Stockholm, the Ku ngsholmen Project. Smokers had, as expected, higher cadmium levels tha n non-smokers. Cadmium concentrations in blood were related to diastol ic blood pressure in non-smoking, non-demented individuals. In contras t to previous reports no differences in blood cadmium levels were foun d between AD sufferers and non-demented subjects. Furthermore, there w ere no correlations between cadmium levels in blood and age or cogniti ve functions. The importance of quality assurance in sample collection and analysis of cadmium as well as scrutinizing smoking habits is emp hasized.