Volume: 4, 2025
4th International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland:
ENVIRONMENT – PLANT – ANIMAL – PRODUCT
Abstract number: H024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL4.H024
Published online: 9 April 2025
ICDSUPL, 4, H024 (2025)
Trace elements in Alzheimer’s disease. Current state of knowledge
Magdalena Tyczyńska1*
1 Human Anatomy Department, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 4, 20-059 Lublin, Poland
* Corresponding author: m.tyczynska@onet.pl
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neuron degenerative illness with progressive and permanent damage to thinking processes, memory, and linguistic abilities. AD is the most prevalent dementia type among elderly patients with slow progression from mild forgetfulness to the total care necessity. The earliest phase of AD is described as amyloid β-protein (Aβ) aggregation in senile plaques, the occurrence of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTS) that are comprised of unusually phosphorylated tau protein, and decline of neuronal number which lead to cognitive decline. The only conclusive way to diagnose AD is to perform a brain autopsy of the patient’s brain tissue. Increased risk of AD incidence is linked to environmental and metabolic factors, such as poor diet, reduced physical activity, stress, cerebrovascular diseases and exposition to toxic environmental elements. The oxidative stress hypothesis concludes that the central nervous system is very susceptible to oxidative stress, which can later on initiate and promote neurodegeneration. Serum trace element levels’ changes are common in patients who suffer from psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, autism and are associated with their cognitive decline. PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar databases were used to perform article research and “dementia”, “Alzheimer’s disease”, “neurodegeneration”, “trace elements”, “metals” were among the key words written in the browser. Low zinc concentrations, as well as high levels of copper, manganese, and iron activate signalling pathways of the inflammatory, oxidative and nitrosative stress response. Neurodegeneration occurs due to the association between metals and proteins, which is then followed by the aggregate formation, mitochondrial disorder, and ultimately- cell death. In Alzheimer’s disease low Zn levels suppress the neurotoxicity induced by β-amyloid through selective precipitation of aggregation intermediates. High concentrations of copper, iron and manganese cause the aggregation of intracellular α-synuclein, which results in synaptic dysfunction and axonal transport disruption. It is pivotal to understand the influence that certain metals have on oxidoreduction homeostasis, as it may provide with possible new targets for prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Keywords: trace elements, metals, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease
How to cite
M. Tyczyńska, 2025. Trace elements in Alzheimer’s disease. Current state of knowledge. In: 4th International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: Environment – Plant – Animal – Product. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL4.H024