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HomeAlzheimer's & DementiaThe role of aluminum and amyloid-β in familial Alzheimer’s disease

The role of aluminum and amyloid-β in familial Alzheimer’s disease

A recent study has supported the link between aluminum and familial Alzheimer’s disease and further explored how aluminum and amyloid-β are interlinked in the disease.

Familial Alzheimer’s disease is a rare type of Alzheimer’s disease that is associated with three kinds of genetic mutations – amyloid precursor protein, presenilin-1, and presenilin-2. The link between aluminum and amyloid-β in Alzheimer’s disease has been known for many years.

In a recent study, researchers wanted to confirm the relationship between aluminum exposure and familial Alzheimer’s disease, in addition to exploring how the location of aluminum and amyloid-β are interconnected in this disease.

The researchers used brain tissue from Colombian donors with familial Alzheimer’s disease who had a PS1-E280A mutation. The aluminum content of these brain tissues was measured and compared with the control group who had no neurological disorder. Aluminum-specific fluorescence microscopy and imaging of amyloid-β were used to explore the link between aluminum and amyloid-β in familial Alzheimer’s disease.

The researchers published their results in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. In the first part of the study, the researchers found a very high level of aluminum content in the brain tissues of those with Alzheimer’s disease compared to those without the neurological disorder. The results of the second part of the study suggested a strong relationship between the location of aluminum and amyloid-β in this disease. The researchers found that aluminum and amyloid-β were found in the same areas.

The researchers suggest that the presence of aluminum may result in an increase in amyloid-β in the brain tissue. According to lead investigator Christopher Exley, “One could envisage increased amyloid-beta in brain tissue as a response to high levels of aluminum content, or that aluminum fosters the accumulation of amyloid-beta,” “Either way, the new research confirms my resolve that within the normal lifespan of humans, there would not be any AD if there were no aluminum in the brain tissue. No aluminum, no AD.”

 

Written by Neha Ramjuttun

 

References:

  1. Mold, M., Linhart, C., Gómez-Ramírez, J., Villegas-Lanau, A., & Exley, C. (2020). Aluminum and Amyloid-β in Familial Alzheimer’s Disease. Journal Of Alzheimer’s Disease, 1-9. doi: 10.3233/jad-191140
  2. Human exposure to aluminum linked to familial Alzheimer’s disease. (2020). Retrieved 22 January 2020, from https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-01/ip-het012020.php
  3. What Is Early Onset Familial Alzheimer Disease (eFAD)? | ALZFORUM. (2020). Retrieved 22 January 2020, from https://www.alzforum.org/early-onset-familial-ad/overview/what-early-onset-familial-alzheimer-disease-efad

 

Image by Raman Oza from Pixabay

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