Calcium, magnesium and aluminum concentrations in Parkinson's disease

Concentrations of calcium (Ca) and aluminum (Al) were measured by neutron activation analysis and that of magnesium (Mg) by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry in 26 regions of Parkinson's disease (PD) and control brains. Ca concentration was unchanged in all anatomic subregions of PD brains compared with control brains. Mg concentration was lower in cortex, white matter, basal ganglia and brain stem of PD brains compared to control brains (p < 0.01). Al concentration in the substantia nigra, caudate nucleus and globus pallidus was higher in PD brains compared to controls (p < 0.05) and significantly higher in gray matter and the basal ganglia (p < 0.01). These studies are consistent with other observations linking high concentrations of Al and low levels of Mg in the pathogenesis of CNS degeneration and PD.