title: Zinc and platelet membrane microviscosity in Alzheimer's disease. The in vivo effect of zinc on platelet membranes and cognition.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of oral zinc supplementation on: (i) plasma zinc concentrations; (ii) platelet membrane microviscosity in vivo; and (iii) cognitive function of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  An open-labelled pilot study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University of Stellenbosch Medical School and Stikland Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six volunteer AD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma zinc levels, platelet membrane microviscosity and cognition (MMSE and ADAS-cog tests).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oral zinc supplementation (30 mg/day) did not increase plasma zinc levels significantly, but significantly increased platelet membrane microviscosity (P = 0.02; 6 patients). Four patients, who underwent 12 months of evaluation, showed modest cognitive improvement on psychometric testing (Mini-Mental State Examination and the cognitive portion of the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment scale scores).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While earlier literature promoted the use of zinc in AD patients, a recent study has contradicted this and implicated zinc in the aetiology of Alzheimer's disease. On the basis of the above results, it may be premature to single out zinc as a causal agent in AD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, W Cape.
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Potocnik
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: van Rensburg
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Taljaard
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Emsley
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008560:Membrane Fluidity; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D014783:Viscosity; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015032:Zinc