Cognitive decline correlates with low plasma concentrations of copper in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating brain disorder clinically characterised by progressive loss of characteristic cognitive abilities. Increasing evidence suggests a disturbed copper (Cu) homeostasis to be associated with the pathological processes. In the present study we analysed the plasma Cu levels and cognitive abilities using the Alzheimer's disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog) in 32 patients with mild to moderate AD. Statistical analysis revealed a negative correlation between plasma Cu levels and cognitive decline (r=-0.49; P<0.01). Patients with low plasma Cu (mean 82 +/- SD 9) had significant higher ADAS-cog values (mean 23 +/- SD 7), than patients with medium plasma Cu (mean 110 +/- SD 7), who exhibited lower ADAS-cog scores (mean 16 +/- SD 4; ANOVA, P<0.0001). Despite the fact that all patients had plasma Cu levels within the physiological range between 65 microg and 165 microg/dL, 87.5% of the patients revealed a significant negative correlation between plasma Cu and ADAS-cog. This finding supports the hypothesis of a mild Cu deficiency in most AD patients.
Pajonk
Frank-Gerald
FG
Department for Psychiatry, Saarland University, Building 90, 66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany.
Kessler
Holger
H
Supprian
Tillmann
T
Hamzei
Pegah
P
Bach
Daniela
D
Schweickhardt
Janina
J
Herrmann
Wolfgang
W
Obeid
Rima
R
Simons
Andreas
A
Falkai
Peter
P
Multhaup
Gerd
G
Bayer
Thomas A
TA
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D002570:Ceruloplasmin / Q000378:metabolism; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D013223:Statistics as Topic
D003300:Copper; D002570:Ceruloplasmin