title: Trace element levels in human alcoholic brain.
abstract: Copper, magnesium, zinc and manganese levels in the temporal cortex of human alcoholic and control brains were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry using both the flame and graphite furnace. All of the 21 alcoholics were male with a mean age of 54.1 years; the 19 male controls had a mean age of 60.2 years. The only statistically significant change in ion levels was an increase in manganese concentration (expressed both as microgram/g wet weight and ng/mg protein) in the alcoholic group when compared to the control group. Five of the alcoholics had malignancies, while 16 of the controls had systemic malignancies. Covariance analysis showed there was no effect of age on the level of manganese in the temporal cortex.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000378:metabolism*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008345:Manganese / Q000378:metabolism; D008670:Metals / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000378:metabolism*; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D014131:Trace Elements; D008345:Manganese; D003300:Copper; D008274:Magnesium; D015032:Zinc