AL-26 UPTAKE AND ACCUMULATION IN THE RAT-BRAIN

To investigate the cause of Alzheimer's disease (senile dementia), Al- 26 incorporation in the rat brain was studied by accelerator mass spec trometry (AMS). When Al-26 was injected into healthy rats, a considera ble amount of Al-26 entered the brain (cerebrum) through the blood-bra in barrier 5 days after a single injection, and the brain Al-26 level remained almost constant from 5 to 270 days. On the other hand, the le vel of Al-26 in the blood decreased remarkably 75 days after injection . Approximately 89% of the Al-26 taken in by the brain cell nuclei bou nd to chromatin. This study supports the theory that Alzheimer's disea se is caused by irreversible accumulation of aluminium (Al) in the bra in, and brain cell nuclei.