Al, Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe levels in brain in Alzheimer's disease

The aim of our experiments was to investigate the possible element concentration changes in Alzheimer's disease. Our project incorporated the determination of the regional distribution of elements in normal human brain, too. Five elements (Al, Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe) have been measured in 10 different regions of 20 normal brains (mean age 70 years) and in brain parts of patients with Alzheimer's disease (9 individuals). Analyses were carried out by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) techniques. Analytical precision and accuracy were investigated by NIST standard reference material. In a comparison between the healthy and Alzheimer patients' concentration data using statistical treatment these elements showed difference as a function of the Alzheimer disease (AD).