Serum magnesium level and clinical deterioration in Alzheimer's disease.
BACKGROUND
Recent studies suggest that magnesium, which specially affects the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor response to excitatory amino acids, may be a supportive therapeutic agent in Alzheimer's disease.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between magnesium levels and the cognitive test results and clinical stages of the patients.


METHODS
Thirty-seven patients (20 women, 17 men) and 34 controls were included in the study. The patients were staged according to Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR).


RESULTS
There was a significant difference for Mg levels according to GDS (p = 0.030). Similarly, Mg levels were different between patients with low and high CDR stages (p = 0.003). Mg levels were lower in the group whose MMSE scores were <20 than in those whose MMSE scores were >/=20. A negative correlation was found between Mg levels and GDS and CDR (respectively: r = -0.35, p = 0.033; r = -0.360, p = 0.029).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that there is a relationship between serum Mg levels and the degree of Alzheimer's disease and that the determination of the Mg level at various stages may provide valuable information in further understanding the progression and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
Cilliler
Asli Ece
AE
1st Department of Neurology, Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Ozturk
Serefnur
S
Ozbakir
Senay
S
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000145:classification; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male
D008274:Magnesium