Trace elements in Alzheimer's disease brain: A new hypothesis.

Trace elements AI, Fe, Zn, Cu, S, P, Mg, Si, Ca, Na, and K, were analysed in normal, moderately
and severely affected Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains using Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic
Emission Spectrometer (ICPAES). In moderately affected brains, the monovalent elements Potassium
and Phosphorus were significantly reduced, while divalent elements namely Calcium, Magnesium,
Zinc and Copper were increased. In severely affected AD brains, Aluminium. Sulphur and Iron
predominated. It was shown that Iron accumulates more in the brains of people with moderate and
severe AD, while Aluminium deposition is greater in the severely affected AD brain. All the above
results suggest that Iron deposits early in AD pathology while Aluminum deposits in the later phase
of AD. These are the first findings to provide evidence of the distribution of trace elements and their
inter-relationship with the severity of AD.