Age-associated changes of brain copper, iron, and zinc in Alzheimer's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies.

Abstract

Disease-, age-, and gender-associated changes in brain copper, iron, and zinc were assessed in postmortem neocortical tissue (Brodmann area 7) from patients with moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) (n = 14), severe AD (n = 28), dementia with Lewy bodies (n = 15), and normal age-matched control subjects (n = 26). Copper was lower (20%; p < 0.001) and iron higher (10-16%; p < 0.001) in severe AD compared with controls. Intriguingly significant Group*Age interactions were observed for both copper and iron, suggesting gradual age-associated decline of these metals in healthy non-cognitively impaired individuals. Zinc was unaffected in any disease pathologies and no age-associated changes were apparent. Age-associated changes in brain elements warrant further investigation.

• Authors: Stewart F Graham, Muhammad Bin Nasaruddin, Manus Carey, Christian Holscher, Bernadette McGuinness, Patrick G Kehoe, Seth Love, Peter Passmore, Christopher T Elliott, Andrew A Meharg, Brian D Green
• Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD (J Alzheimers Dis) Vol. 42 Issue 4 Pg. 1407-13 ( 2014) ISSN: 1875-8908 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 25024342 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Copper
• Iron
• Zinc

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Aging (metabolism)
• Alzheimer Disease (metabolism)
• Brain (metabolism)
• Copper (metabolism)
• Female
• Humans
• Iron (metabolism)
• Lewy Body Disease (metabolism)
• Male
• Severity of Illness Index
• Zinc (metabolism)