Aluminium is present in the earth's crust in huge amount, mainly in the form of insoluble aluminium silicates. It is scarce in the human body which contain only 30-50 mg of that metal. This is due to the insolubility of aluminium, the presence of a barrier in the gastro-intestinal tract to soluble forms of aluminium, and the ability of the kidneys to excrete aluminium effectively in healthy people. Aluminium is present in food occurs in additives, tea which is rich in aluminium, and drinking water which is treated with aluminium to remove organic residues. Aluminium is also present in large amounts in medications such as antacids or compound aspirin products. Most of the aluminium in plasma is bound to the iron-transporting protein transferrin. Aluminium accumulates in areas of the brain with the highest concentration of transferrin receptors such as the cortex, hippocampus and amygdala; the same areas vulnerable to the development of Alzhiemer disease. The distribution of Aluminium in the brain reflects the neurones with the highest requirements for iron. The entry of aluminium into the brain mediated through transferrin. The issue of aluminium as cause for Alzheimer's disease has been contentious. In special circumstances such as renal failure and massive exposure to aluminium in certain occupations aluminium may cause brain pathology similar to Alzheimer Disease. However, there is no definite evidence of the role of this metal in the causation or development of Alzheimer disease. Some cases of Presenile Alzheimer disease (occurring before the age of 65) run in families and are associated with mutation in the beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene implicated in Alzheimer Disease. Elderly cases of Alzheimer disease ... ... middle of paper ... ...lation between Alzheimer's disease and aluminium in drinking water: CN Martyn, C Osmond, JA Edwardson, DJP Barker… - The Lancet, 1989 Absence of aluminium in neuritic plaque cores in Alzheimer's disease : JP Landsberg, B McDonald… - 1992 - nature. Selective accumulation of aluminum and iron in the neurofibrillary tangles of Alzheimer's disease: a laser microprobe (LAMMA) study : PF Good, DP Perl, LM Bierer… - Annals of [HTML] Metabolism and possible health effects of aluminum.from nih.gov PO Ganrot - Environmental Health Perspectives, 1986 - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Brain-aluminium concentration in dialysis encephalopathy: JR McDermott, AI Smith, MK Ward, IS Parkinson… - The Lancet, 1978 - Elsevier Aluminium as a risk factor in Alzheimer's disease, with emphasis on drinking water: from anti-cancer.fr TP Flaten - Brain Research Bulletin, 2001 - Elsevier
Aluminum is the third most abundant element and most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust. Aluminum is never found in the free element state in nature. It
Reports on the neurotoxic properties of Aluminum (Al++), as well as those of many other heavy metals, date as far back as the end of the nineteenth century. In 1965, Al was found to induce the formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) in animal brains. These NFT’s were similar to those found in brains of patients suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Vast research thus, was targeted at defining the possible etiologic role of Al in AD. However, several findings, among them the fact that Al++ induced NFT’s are structurally different than those found in AD, have contributed to reducing the importance placed on Al++ as an etiologic factor of AD. The Al++ theory, however, still remains a theory, and further research needs to be done before it can be disproved.
Iron is a trace element, which is a group of minerals present in small quantities in the body. Other trace elements include copper, zinc, selenium, manganese and iodine. These minerals cannot be synthesized by the body and must therefore be supplied in the diet. Iron is the most common trace element in the human body; adult males have approximately 3.5 g iron in total, or 50 mg per kg body weight while females have about 2g total iron or 35 mg per kg bodyweight. Iron can exist in oxidation states from -2 to +6, but mainly exists in the ferrous (+2) and ferric (+3) states in biological systems. As iron has the ability to accept and donate electrons readily, it can interconvert between these two forms with ease. Thus, iron can participate in
Thesis/Preview Statement – Alzheimer’s disease (AD) causes a decline in brain function, it destroys healthy nerve cells. Today, we have discussed Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis of AD.
Clinically, Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by the accumulation of beta-amyloid plaque between living neurons in the brain (Sabbagh, 2008). This results in an excessive calcium influx inside the neurons and the breakdown of a protein called tau. Normally, the rol...
Alzheimer’s can be diagnosed before age 65, although rare, and is caused by a mutation in 3 known genes. About 5 percent of those who are under 65 and possess the ailment have AD in their family history. Given that the symptoms of AD are caused by plaque in the brain, causing loss of nerve cells that help the body communicate with the brain, mutations to these genes; amyloid precursor protein, presenilin 1, and presenilin 2 cause a excessive production of certain proteins (primarily a B-42 form of amyloid protein), and therefore spark an excessive growth of plaque cells which are toxic to the neurons of the brain. For those cases of Alzheimer’s that occur after age 65, a genetic mutation has yet to be proven, although some may be linked, to the fact that a difference may cause an increased chance of developing the ailment. Whatever the case may be for patients over 65 years old, the disease and its symptoms are caused by neurofibrillary tangles of almyloid plaques. It is impossible for someone to test positive for Alzheimer’s Disease, because the only way to determine an affirmative case i...
of diagnosis is about 80 years old (Johnson, 1989). The incidence is about the same for all races, but women are more likely than men to develop the disease, because they live longer. The second factor is heredity. Family history plays a role in about forty percent of people with early onset of Alzheimer’s (Johnson, 1989). If your parents or a sibling developed the disease, you are more likely to, as well. But there are cases of families with several people who have had this disease and other members are not affected. These two factors are the only proven factors, but environmental research is being done to help with a possible protective effect for the disease. As of now, more research is needed to confirm any be...
Arsenic is the 20th most common element in the earth’s crust and can be found naturally in our environment. There is around 0.006 to 0.03 ppm or arsenic distributed in seawater, and 20 ppm of arsenic in soil (before pesticides). Every human will ingest about 0.5 to 1 mg of arsenic in a day from food and water, because arsenic is present in higher quantities in se...
Alzheimer’s disease got its name from the German doctor, Dr. Alois Alzheimer. In 1906, he noticed that there were abnormal clumps and bundles of fibers i...
Scientists know that Alzheimer disease is characterized by a gradual spread of sticky plaques and clumps of tangled fibers that disrupt the organization of nerve cells in the brain. However , a definite cause, prevention, or cause has not been found.
Aluminum is a lightweight, silvery metal. The atomic weight of aluminum is 26.9815; the element melts at 660° C (1220° F), boils at 2467° C (4473° F), and has a specific gravity of 2.7. Aluminum is a strongly electropositive metal and extremely reactive. In contact with air, aluminum rapidly becomes covered with a tough, transparent layer of aluminum oxide that resists further corrosive action. For this reason, materials made of aluminum do not tarnish or rust. The metal reduces many other metallic compounds to their base metals. For example, when thermite (a mixture of powdered iron oxide and aluminum) is heated, the aluminum rapidly removes the oxygen from the iron; the heat of the reaction is sufficient to melt the iron. This phenomenon is used in the thermite process for welding iron .
Paulson is the Lucile Groff Professor Neurology for Alzheimer’s Disease and is in the Department of Neurology at the University of Michigan. Paulson earned his MD and PhD from Yale University and after he continued his passion with neurology and completed his residence at University of Pennsylvania. Paulson’s theory suggests that genetic factors play an important role in Alzheimer’s and he discusses the specific genes that with mutation could led to onset Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s diseases is often caused by mutation in specific genes. The amyloid protein gene is usually discovered first, it encodes the neuronal membrane, and β-amyloid is released, and creates two proteases, β-secretase and gamma-secretase. Presenilins 1 and 2 are a key component of the gamma-secretase. The amyloid protein gene and presenilin 2 mutations are not very common compared to presenilin 1 which mutations are more common. ApoE is the most important genetic risk factor of late onset Alzheimer’s disease. ApoE is a genetic risk factor not a gene that causes the disease through the mutation. People who have the allele sometimes don’t even develop Alzheimer’s and some people do. In this source Paulson discuss the role of genes that cause Alzheimer’s disease and any type of genetic factors in the most common
Aluminum is one of a number of soft metals that scientists call "poor" metals. It can be shaped and twisted into any form. It can be rolled into thick plates for armored tanks or into thin foil for chewing gum wrappers. It may be drawn into a wire or made into cans. Aluminum is a generally popular metal because it does not rust and it resists wear from weather and chemicals. (Bowman, 391) Aluminum is an element. Its atomic number is thirteen and its atomic weight is usually twenty-seven. Pure aluminum melts at 660.2ºC and boils at 2500ºC. Its density is 2.7 grams per cube centimeter. Aluminum is never found uncombined in nature. (Bowman, 391) Aluminum is a very useful metal that is light, easy to shape and can be strong. This makes aluminum one of the most used metals in the world, right behind iron and steel. (Geary, 185) In its pure state, aluminum is quite weak compared to the other metals. However, its strength can be greatly increased by adding small amounts of alloying elements, heat-treating, or cold working. Only a small percentage of aluminum is used in its pure form. It is made into such items as electrical conductors, jewelry, and decorative trim for alliances and cars. A combination of the three techniques has produced aluminum alloys that, pound for pound, are stronger than structural steel. Some common metals used in alloys for aluminum are copper, magnesium and zinc.(Walker, 31) The added elements give the aluminum strength and other properties. (Newmark, 41) Aluminum is one of the lightest metals. It weighs about 168.5 pounds per cubic foot, about a third as much as steel which weighs 487 pounds per cubic foot. (Neely, 214) As a result, aluminum has replaced steel for many uses. For example, some ...
Gold was discovered around 6000 BC; it was first discovered in its Natural state un-combined. Gold can be found in the earth’s crust in two different types of deposits: Lode deposits which are deposits in solid rock and placer deposits which are found in stream beds. Aluminium is the 3rd most common element and the most abundant metal. However it was not extracted and used in its pure form until 1825 many years after Gold. Although Aluminium bearing compounds, have been used in pottery, paint and medicines since early civilisations. Aluminium is never found naturally, it is always found combined in a compound or ore. The reason aluminium is always found combined and Gold is found Un-combined is there reactivity. Gold is not very reactive therefore doesn’t reactive with other elements in its environment, however Aluminium is very reactive and reacts with many things within its environment resulting in it always being found combined. The development of both these elements throughout the years between their discovery and now shows us how far human technology has come from not being able to extract aluminium at all, too now Aluminium being the most produced metal on earth and gold becoming one of the most prized elements of all.
Alchemists also discovered zinc to protect your skin from the beautiful sun! The alchemist Johann Bottger, stumbled on a material that allowed German workshops to make their own porcelain and break China's monopoly on one of the world's most lucrative industries. Take that China! Who would have thunk! Laugh out