Trace elements in the cerebrospinal fluid in Alzheimer's disease

Normal and Alzheimer's disease (AD) cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were analysed for aluminium (Al), sulphur (S), sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), potassium ( K), calcium (Ca), zinc (Zn) and phosphorus (P) using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometer (ICPAES). The results showed that Al, Mg, Mn and Ca levels were similar in control and AD CSF. However, while K, P and S were significantly (p<0.0001) decreased in AD CSF compared with con trols, the Na level was significantly (p<0.0001) increased in AD CSF. Furth ermore, the elements Co and Cr were elevated in AD CSF, while Cu and Fe lev els were decreased in AD CSF. The mole percentage ratio of selected element s namely, Na/Fe, Ca/Fe, AI/Fe, Mg/Fe, Na/P, Na/K, Na/S, K/P, Ca/P, K/S, Ca/ K, Co/Fe, Ca/S, Al/P, Al/K, Mg/P, Mg/S, Al/Zn, Fe/Cu, Fe/S, Zn/Cu showed a definite increase in AD CSF over control levels. The comparative assessment of total percentage of charge distribution between control and AD CSF indi cated that in AD CSF, the percentage charge distribution of divalent and tr ivalent ions were moderately decreased, while monovalent charge distributio n was moderately increased compared to the control group. The comparison of these CSF results within AD and control brain showed novel relationships ( direct or inverse) between selected elements. This information provides a c lue to the further understanding the role of trace elemental homoeostasis i n neurodegeneration.