Copper perturbation in 2 monozygotic twins discordant for degree of cognitive impairment.
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.
Squitti
Rosanna
R
Department of Neuroscience, Associazione Fatebenefratelli per la Ricerc Foundation, Ospedale Fatebenefratelli, Rome, Italy. squitti@ifn.cnr.it
Cassetta
Emanuele
E
Dal Forno
Gloria
G
Lupoi
Domenico
D
Lippolis
Giulia
G
Pauri
Flavia
F
Vernieri
Fabrizio
F
Cappa
Antonella
A
Rossini
Paolo M
PM
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
D015415:Biomarkers; D010545:Peroxides; D003300:Copper