IMBALANCES OF TRACE-ELEMENTS RELATED TO OXIDATIVE DAMAGE IN ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE BRAIN

Four elements that have been implicated in free-radical-induced oxidat ive stress in Alzheimer's disease (AD) were measured by instrumental n eutron activation analysis (INAA) in seven brain regions from 58 AD pa tients and 21 control subjects. A statistically significant elevation of iron and zinc was observed in multiple regions of AD brain, compare d with controls. Mercury was elevated in AD in most regions studied, b ut the high variability of mercury levels in both AD and control subje cts prevented the AD-control difference from reaching significance. Se lenium, a protective agent against mercury toxicity, was significantly elevated only in AD amygdala. The elevation of iron and zinc in AD br ain has the potential of augmenting neuron degeneration through free r adical processes. (C) 1998 Intox Press, Inc.