Abstract
We have previously described the role played by toxic-metal burdens in the etiology of neurodegenerative diseases (ND). We herein report an updated evaluation of toxic-metal burdens in human subjects affected or not affected by ND or other chronic diseases. Each subject underwent a chelation test with the chelating agent calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (CaNA2EDTA or EDTA) to identify the presence of 20 toxic metals in urine samples using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Our results show the constant presence of toxic metals, such as lead, cadmium, cesium, and aluminum, in all examined subjects but the absence of beryllium and tellurium. Gadolinium was detected in patients undergoing diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging. The presence of toxic metals was always significantly more elevated in ND patients than in healthy controls. Treatment with EDTA chelation therapy removes toxic-metal burdens and improves patient symptoms.
Highlights
Multiple mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases (ND), and knowing how these mechanisms work is of paramount relevance to identify a proper therapeutic strategy
Alongside these important causes of neuron damage or death, we have focused our studies on the role of toxic metals in the pathogenesis of ND and have described the molecular mechanisms of each toxic metal leading to impaired biological functions in multiple organs, which are cumulatively related to the excessive production of detrimental free oxygen/nitrogen radicals [9]
The neuroinflammation hypothesis regarding the link between air pollution and ND supports the concept that inhaled pollutants activate the microglial production of cytokines and reactive oxygen species in the brain that can progressively damage the neurons [17]
Summary
Multiple mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases (ND), and knowing how these mechanisms work is of paramount relevance to identify a proper therapeutic strategy. The role played by the inflammatory process in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration, in the elderly, can be explained by the link between inflammation and mental-function impairment [8] Alongside these important causes of neuron damage or death, we have focused our studies on the role of toxic metals in the pathogenesis of ND and have described the molecular mechanisms of each toxic metal leading to impaired biological functions in multiple organs, which are cumulatively related to the excessive production of detrimental free oxygen/nitrogen radicals [9]. Exposure to heavy metals such as cadmium and arsenic correlates with glutathione-S-transferase polymorphism in Iranian MS patients, due to the enzyme’s ability to remove toxic products [14] Overall, these findings provide the rationale for the management of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) chelation therapy [9] as a successful option in the treatment of ND and other diseases associated with metal burdens [1,9]. Our study, aimed to investigate the potential and the efficacy of chelation therapy in the cure of subjects affected by toxic metal burden, encouraging its employment in removing toxic-metal poisoning and related symptoms, through an extensive clinical description of a representative case
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