title: Copper perturbation in 2 monozygotic twins discordant for degree of cognitive impairment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent evidence indicates that peripheral tissue markers can provide information regarding changes affecting cellular metabolism in Alzheimer disease (AD). We previously reported that serum copper levels can discriminate subjects with AD from normal control subjects (with 60% sensitivity and 95% specificity) and from patients with vascular dementia (with 63% sensitivity and 85% specificity).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the correlation between AD and serum levels of transition metals and markers of peripheral oxidative stress.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case study.
  
  
  METHODS
  General hospital inpatient wards and outpatient clinics. Patients A pair of elderly monozygotic female twins discordant for AD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Biochemical analyses of peripheral-blood transition metals and indicators of oxidative stress and neurologic and neuropsychological assessments of clinical status for presence of cognitive impairment and AD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum copper and total peroxide levels were both 44% higher in the twin with greater cognitive impairment and a diagnosis of AD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cases reported support the hypothesis of a major involvement of copper and oxidative abnormalities in AD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Associazione Fatebenefratelli per la Ricerc Foundation, Ospedale Fatebenefratelli, Rome, Italy. squitti@ifn.cnr.it
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Squitti
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cassetta
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dal Forno
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lupoi
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lippolis
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pauri
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vernieri
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cappa
authors.forename: Paolo M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Rossini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood*; D004200:Diseases in Twins; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010545:Peroxides / Q000097:blood; D011859:Radiography; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010545:Peroxides; D003300:Copper