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New Evidence for an Active Role of Aluminum in Alzheimer's Disease

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

D.R. Crapper McLachlan ,
W.J. Lukiw  and
T.P.A. Kruck
D.R. Crapper McLachlan*
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto
W.J. Lukiw
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto
T.P.A. Kruck
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto
*
Department of Physiology, Room 3318, Medical Sciences Building, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A8
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Abstract:

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Application of molecular biological techniques and sensitive elemental analysis have produced new evidence implicating aluminum as an important factor in down regulation of neuronal protein metabolism. Aluminum in Alzheimer's disease may act by electrostatically crosslinking proteins, particularly the methionine containing histone Hl°, and DNA. The consequence of such crosslinking is reduced transcription of at least one neuron specific gene, the low molecular weight component of neurofilaments. In the superior temporal gyrus in Alzheimer's disease, down regulation of this gene occurs in approximately 86% of surviving neurons and, therefore, aluminum must be considered as having an active role in the pathogenesis. Epidemiological studies are reviewed that independently support the hypothesis that environmental aluminum is a significant risk factor. Preliminary evidence also suggests that a disorder in phosphorylation may be an important initiating factor.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 16 , Issue S4 , November 1989 , pp. 490 - 497
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation 1989

References

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