Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-18T15:10:59.910Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Micronutrients and Alzheimer's disease

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 March 2007

Hannes B. Staehelin
Hannes B. Staehelin
Affiliation:
Geriatric University Clinic, University Hospital, CH-4031, Basel, Switzerland
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The current high life expectancy is overshadowed by neurodegenerative illnesses that lead to dementia and dependence. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common of these conditions, and is considered to be a proteinopathy, with amyloid-β42 as a key factor, leading via a cascade of events to neurodegeneration. Major factors involved are oxidative stress, perturbed Ca homeostasis and impaired energy metabolism. Protection against oxidative stress by micronutrients (including secondary bioactive substances) has been shown in transgenic Alzheimer model systems to delay AD. Epidemiological evidence is less conclusive, but the vast majority of the evidence supports a protective effect on cognitive functions in old age and AD. Thus, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables but also containing meat and fish is the most suitable to provide adequate micronutrients. The strong link between cardiovascular risk and AD may be explained by common pathogenetic mechanisms mediated, for example, by homocysteine and thus dependant on B-vitamins (folate and vitamins B12 and B6). However, micronutrients may also be harmful. The high affinity of amyloid for metals (Fe, Al and Zn) favours the generation of reactive oxygen species and triggers an inflammatory response. Micronutrients in a balanced diet have a long-lasting, albeit low, protective impact on brain aging, hence prevention should be life long.

Keywords

Alzheimer's diseaseOxidative stressCognitive function
Type
Meeting Report
Information
Proceedings of the Nutrition Society , Volume 64 , Issue 4 , November 2005 , pp. 565 - 570
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2005

References

Aliev, G, Smith, MA, Seyidov, D, Neal, ML, Lamb, BT, Nunomura, A, Gasimov, EK, Vinters, HV, Perry, G, LaManna, JC & Friedland, RP (2002) The role of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of cerebrovascular lesions in Alzheimer's disease. Brain Pathology 12, 21–35.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Barany, E, Bergdahl, IA, Bratteby, LE, Lundh, T, Samuelson, G, Skerfving, S & Oskarsson, A (2003) Mercury and selenium in whole blood and serum in relation to fish consumption and amalgam fillings in adolescents. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology 17, 165–170.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Barany, E, Bergdahl, IA, Bratteby, LE, Lundh, T, Samuelson, G, Skerfving, S & Oskarsson, A (2005) Iron status influences trace element levels in human blood and serum. Environmental Research 98, 215–223.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bates, CJ, Benton, D, Biesalski, HK, Staehelin, HB, van Staveren, W, Stehle, P, Suter, PM & Wolfram, G (2002) Nutrition and aging: a consensus statement. Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging 6, 103–116.Google ScholarPubMed
Bridges, CC & Zalups, RK (2005) Molecular and ionic mimicry and the transport of toxic metals. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 204, 274–308.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Campbell, A, Becaria, A, Lahiri, DK, Sharman, K & Bondy, SC (2004) Chronic exposure to aluminium in drinking water increases inflammatory parameters selectively in the brain. Journal of Neuroscience Research 75, 565–572.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chen, J & Berry, MJ (2003) Selenium and selenoproteins in the brain and brain diseases. Journal of Neurochemistry 86, 1–12.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Commenges, D, Scotet, V, Renaud, S, Jacqmin-Gadda, H, Barberger-Gateau, P & Dartigues, JF (2000) Intake of flavonoids and risk of dementia. European Journal of Epidemiology 16, 357–363.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cornett, CR, Markesbery, WR & Ehmann, WD (1998) Imbalances of trace elements related to oxidative damage in Alzheimer's disease brain. Neurotoxicology 19, 339–345.Google ScholarPubMed
Cutler, RG, Kelly, J, Storie, K, Pedersen, WA, Tammara, A, Hatanpaa, K, Troncoso, JC & Mattson, MP (2004) Involvement of oxidative stress-induced abnormalities in ceramide and cholesterol metabolism in brain aging and Alzheimer's disease. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 101, 2070–2075.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Endo, T, Haraguchi, K & Sakata, M (2002) Mercury and selenium concentrations in the internal organs of toothed whales and dolphins marketed for human consumption in Japan. The Science of the Total Environment 300, 15–22.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Engelhart, MJ, Geerlings, MI, Ruitenberg, A, van Swieten, JC, Hofman, A, Witteman, JC & Breteler, MM (2002a) Diet and risk of dementia: Does fat matter: The Rotterdam Study. Neurology 59, 1915–1921.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Engelhart, MJ, Geerlings, MI, Ruitenberg, A, van Swieten, JC, Hofman, A, Witteman, JC & Breteler, MM (2002b) Dietary intake of antioxidants and risk of Alzheimer disease. Journal of the American Medical Association 287, 3223–3229.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Exley, C (2005) The aluminium-amyloid cascade hypothesis and Alzheimer's disease. Sub-cellular Biochemistry 38, 225–234.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fenech, M (2001) The role of folic acid and Vitamin B12 in genomic stability of human cells. Mutation Research 475, 57–67.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fisher, A & Naughton, D (2005) Why nutraceuticals do not prevent or treat Alzheimer's disease. Nutrition Journal 4, 14.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Frisk, P, Wester, K, Yaqob, A & Lindh, U (2003) Selenium protection against mercury-induced apoptosis and growth inhibition in cultured K-562 cells. Biological Trace Element Research 92, 105–114.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fung, YK, Meade, AG, Rack, EP & Blotcky, AJ (1997) Brain mercury in neurodegenerative disorders. Journal of Toxicology 35, 49–54.Google ScholarPubMed
Fusek, M (2001) Der subnormale Cobalaminspiegel, die Cobalaminsubstitution und die kognitiven Fähigkeiten bei Demenz (Subnormal cobalamin level, cobalamin substitution and cognitive ability in dementia). Medical Thesis, University of Basel.Google Scholar
Gilgun-Sherki, Y, Melamed, E & Offen, D (2003) Antioxidant treatment in Alzheimer's disease: current state. Journal of Molecular Neuroscience 21, 1–11.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gray, SL, Hanlon, JT, Landerman, LR, Artz, M, Schmader, KE & Fillenbaum, GG (2003) Is antioxidant use protective of cognitive function in the community-dwelling elderly? American Journal of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy 1, 3–10.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Grodstein, F, Chen, J & Willett, WC (2003) High-dose antioxidant supplements and cognitive function in community-dwelling elderly women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 77, 975–984.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Haller, J, Weggemans, RM, Ferry, M & Guigoz, Y (1996) Mental health: minimental state examination and geriatric depression score of elderly Europeans in the SENECA study of 1993. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 50, S112–S116 Suppl. 2.Google ScholarPubMed
Hofman, A, Ott, A, Breteler, MM, Bots, ML, Slooter, AJ, van Harskamp, F, van Duijn, CN, Van Broeckhoven, C & Grobbee, DE (1997) Atherosclerosis, apolipoprotein E, and prevalence of dementia and Alzheimer's disease in the Rotterdam Study. Lancet 349, 151–154.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
House, E, Collingwood, J, Khan, A, Korchazkina, O, Berthon, G & Exley, C (2004) Aluminium, iron, zinc and copper influence the in vitro formation of amyloid fibrils of Abeta42 in a manner which may have consequences for metal chelation therapy in Alzheimer's disease. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease 6, 291–301.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jayasooriya, AP, Ackland, ML, Mathai, ML, Sinclair, AJ, Weisinger, HS, Weisinger, RS, Halver, JE, Kitajka, K & Puskas, LG (2005) Perinatal omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supply modifies brain zinc homeostasis during adulthood. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 102, 7133–7138.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jing, Y, Wang, Z & Song, Y (2004) Quantitative study of aluminum-induced changes in synaptic ultrastructure in rats. Synapse 52, 292–298.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jorm, AF & Jolley, D (1998) The incidence of dementia: a meta-analysis. Neurology 51, 728–733.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Joseph, JA, Denisova, N, Fisher, D, Shukitt-Hale, B, Bickford, P & Prior, R et al. . (1998a) Membrane and receptor modifications of oxidative stress vulnerability in aging. Nutritional considerations. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 854, 268–276.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Joseph, JA, Denisova, N, Villalobos-Molina, R, Erat, S & Strain, J (1996) Oxidative stress and age-related neuronal deficits. Molecular and Chemical Neuropathology 28, 35–40.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Joseph, JA, Fisher, DR & Carey, AN (2004) Fruit extracts antagonize abeta- or DA-induced deficits in Ca 2+ flux in M1-transfected COS-7 cells. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease 6, 403–411.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Joseph, JA, Shukitt-Hale, B & Casadesus, G (2005) Reversing the deleterious effects of aging on neuronal communication and behavior: beneficial properties of fruit polyphenolic compounds. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 81, 313S–316S.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Joseph, JA, Shukitt-Hale, B, Denisova, NA, Bielinski, D, Martin, A, McEwen, JJ & Bickford, PC (1998b) Long-term dietary strawberry, spinach, or vitamin E supplementation retards the onset of age-related neuronal signal-transduction and cognitive behavioral deficits. Journal of Neuroscience 18, 8047–8055.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
La Rue, A, Koehler, KM, Wayne, SJ, Chiulli, SJ, Haaland, KY & Garry, PJ (1997) Nutritional status and cognitive functioning in a normally aging sample: a 6-y reassessment. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 65, 20–29.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Launer, LJ & Kalmijn, S (1998) Anti-oxidants and cognitive function: a review of clinical and epidemiologic studies. Journal of Neural Transmission 53, 1–8 Suppl.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Laurin, D, Foley, DJ, Masaki, KH, White, LR & Launer, LJ (2002) Vitamin E and C supplements and risk of dementia. Journal of the American Medical Association 288, 2266–2268.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lovestone, S & McLoughlin, DM (2002) Protein aggregates and dementia: is there a common toxicity? Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry 72, 152–161.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Luchsinger, JA, Tang, MX, Shea, S & Mayeux, R (2002) Caloric intake and the risk of Alzheimer disease. Archives of Neurology 59, 1258–1263.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mainous, AG, 3rd Es chenbach, SL, Wells, BJ, Everett, CJ & Gill, JM (2005) Cholesterol, transferrin saturation, and the development of dementia and Alzheimer's disease: results from an 18-year population-based cohort. Family Medicine 37, 36–42.Google ScholarPubMed
Masaki, KH, Losonczy, KG, Izmirlian, G, Foley, DJ, Ross, GW, Petrovitch, H, Havlik, R & White, LR (2000) Association of vitamin E and C supplement use with cognitive function and dementia in elderly men. Neurology 54, 1265–1272.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Matsuzaki, S, Manabe, T, Katayama, T, Nishikawa, A, Yanagita, T, Okuda, H, Yasuda, Y, Miyata, S, Meshitsuka, S & Tohyama, M (2004) Metals accelerate production of the aberrant splicing isoform of the presenilin-2. Journal of Neurochemistry 88, 1345–1351.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Maynard, CJ, Bush, AI, Masters, CL, Cappai, R & Li, QX (2005) Metals and amyloid-beta in Alzheimer's disease. International Journal of Experimental Pathology 86, 147–159.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Meseguer, I, Molina, JA, Jimenez-Jimenez, FJ, Aguilar, MV, Mateos-Vega, CJ & Gonzalez-Munoz, MJ, et al. . (1999) Cerebrospinal fluid levels of selenium in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Journal of Neural Transmission 106, 309–315.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Morris, MC, Beckett, LA, Scherr, PA, Hebert, LE, Bennett, DA, Field, TS & Evans, DA (1998) Vitamin E and vitamin C supplement use and risk of incident Alzheimer disease. Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders 12, 121–126.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Morris, MC, Evans, DA, Bienias, JL, Tangney, CC, Bennett, DA, Aggarwal, N, Wilson, RS & Scherr, PA (2002) Dietary intake of antioxidant nutrients and the risk of incident Alzheimer disease in a biracial community study. Journal of the American Medical Association 287, 3230–3237.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nelson, TJ & Alkon, DL (2005) Oxidation of cholesterol by amyloid precursor protein and beta-amyloid peptide. Journal of Biological Chemistry 280, 7377–7387.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Perrig, WJ, Perrig, P & Stahelin, HB (1997) The relation between antioxidants and memory performance in the old and very old. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 45, 718–724.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ritchie, K & Lovestone, S (2002) The dementias. Lancet 360, 1759–1766.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rutten, BP, Steinbusch, HW, Korr, H & Schmitz, C (2002) Antioxidants and Alzheimer's disease: from bench to bedside (and back again). Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care 5, 645–651.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sano, M, Ernesto, C, Thomas, RG, Klauber, MR, Schafer, K & Grundman, M et al. (1997) A controlled trial of selegiline, alpha-tocopherol, or both as treatment for Alzheimer's disease. The Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study. New England Journal of Medicine 336, 1216–1222.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Selkoe, DJ & Schenk, D (2002) Alzheimer's disease: molecular understanding predicts amyloid-based therapeutics. Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology 4, 4.Google Scholar
Seshadri, S, Beiser, A, Selhub, J, Jacques, PF, Rosenberg, IH, D'Agostino, RB, Wilson, PW & Wolf, PA (2002) Plasma homocysteine as a risk factor for dementia and Alzheimer's disease. New England Journal of Medicine 346, 476–483.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tabet, N, Mantle, D, Walker, Z & Orrell, M (2001) Vitamins, trace elements, and antioxidant status in dementia disorders. International Psychogeriatrics 13, 265–275.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
The Canadian Study of Health and Aging Working Group (2000) The incidence of dementia in Canada. The Canadian Study of Health and Aging Working Group. Neurology 55, 66–73.Google Scholar
Turner, C & Schapira, AH (2001) Mitochondrial dysfunction in neurodegenerative disorders and ageing. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 487, 229–251.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Valko, M, Morris, H & Cronin, MT (2005) Metals, toxicity and oxidative stress. Current Medicinal Chemistry 12, 1161–1208.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
White, MF (2003) Insulin signaling in health and disease. Science 302, 1710–1711.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zandi, PP, Anthony, JC, Khachaturian, AS, Stone, SV, Gustafson, D, Tschanz, JT, Norton, MC, Welsh-Bohmer, KA & Breitner, JC (2004) Reduced risk of Alzheimer disease in users of antioxidant vitamin supplements: the Cache County Study. Archives of Neurology 61, 82–88.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed