Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by amyloid plaques in patients’ brain tissue. The plaques are mainly made of β-amyloid peptides and trace elements including Zn2+, Cu2+, and Fe2+. Some studies have shown that AD can be considered a type of metal dyshomeostasis. Among metal ions involved in plaques, numerous studies have focused on copper ions, which seem to be one of the main cationic elements in plaque formation. The involvement of copper in AD is controversial, as some studies show a copper deficiency in AD, and consequently a need to enhance copper levels, while other data point to copper overload and therefore a need to reduce copper levels. In this paper, the role of copper ions in AD and some contradictory reports are reviewed and discussed.
Highlights
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder described in 1907 by Alois Alzheimer
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive degenerative disease characterized by the presence of senile plaques in the AD patient’s brain
Fibrils and oligomers at higher copper ion concentrations inhibit the production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)
Summary
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder described in 1907 by Alois Alzheimer He observed amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in the brain of patients showing signs of dementia (Sarell, 2010). ADA inhibitors have been proposed in perinatal hypoxia–ischemia brain injury treatment (Pimentel et al, 2013) Polyvalent metal cations such as copper, zinc, and iron are found in high concentrations in senile plaques in AD patients’ brain (Smith et al, 1997; Lovell et al, 1998; Sayre et al, 2000; Suh et al, 2000; Dong et al, 2003; Miller et al, 2006). The role of metal ions, copper, in AD is reviewed and discussed
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