Macronutrients, aluminium from drinking water and foods, and other metals in cognitive decline and dementia

Issue title: Metals in Alzheimer's disease

Guest editors: Andrei C. Miu and Oana Benga

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Solfrizzi, Vincenzo^a | Colacicco, Anna Maria^a | D'Introno, Alessia^a | Capurso, Cristiano^b | Parigi, Angelo Del^c | Capurso, Sabrina A.^a | Torres, Francesco^a | Capurso, Antonio^a | Panza, Francesco^{a; *}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Geriatrics, Center for Aging Brain, Memory Unit, University of Bari, Bari, Italy | [b] Department of Geriatrics, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy | [c] The John B. Pierce Laboratory, New Haven (CT), USA | Program of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, CJ, Romania

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Francesco Panza, MD, PhD, Department of Geriatrics, Center for Aging Brain, Memory Unit, University of Bari, Policlinico, Piazza G. Cesare, 11, 70124 Bari, Italy. Tel.: +39 080 5592685; Fax: +39 080 5478633; E-mail: geriat.dot@geriatria.uniba.it.

Abstract: A possible role of the macronutrients and the basic elements of carbohydrates (glucose administration or depletion), proteins (amino acids such as tryptophan and tyrosine), and fat (unsaturated fatty acids) was recently proposed for age-related changes of cognitive function, and the cognitive decline of degenerative (AD) or vascular origin. The availability and utilization of glucose has been implicated in cognitive function not only as a result of nutritional and systemic metabolic conditions, but also, although speculatively, as a crucial phase of the mechanism of action of molecules used as cognitive-enhancers. Furthermore, many lines of evidence have focused on the importance of oxidative stress mechanisms and free radical damage in AD pathogenesis. In addition, epidemiological studies have recently reported an association between alcohol and the incidence of AD and predementia syndromes. Foods with large amounts of aluminium-containing additives or aluminium from drinking water may affect the risk of developing AD, aluminium more likely acting as a cofactor somewhere in the cascade of events leading to the demented brain. A role for other metals in dementia have been speculated, given the encouraging results reported from studies on peripheral zinc concentrations, zinc supplementation, serum copper, either bound with ceruloplasmin or not, and iron metabolism in AD. Nonetheless, more data are needed to support a possible role of these metals in dementing diseases. Healthy diets, antioxidant supplements, and the prevention of nutritional deficiencies or exposure to foods and water with high content of metals could be considered the first line of defence against the development and progression of cognitive decline.

Keywords: Carbohydrates, proteins, diet, aluminium, copper, iron, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-2006-102-314

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 10, no. 2-3, pp. 303-330, 2006