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Updated: Aug 7, 2026
09:50
Use of Synaptic Zinc Histochemistry to Reveal Different Regions and Laminae in the Developing and Adult Brain
Published on: October 29, 2017
Elevated cortical zinc in Alzheimer disease
D Religa1, D Strozyk, R A Cherny
1Neurotec, Experimental Geriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Neurology
|July 13, 2006
Summary
Brain zinc levels significantly increase in Alzheimer disease (AD), correlating with amyloid beta-peptide accumulation and dementia severity. This study highlights zinc
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Pathology
Background:
- Alzheimer disease (AD) is characterized by progressive neurodegeneration.
- The role of biometals in AD pathogenesis is not fully understood.
- Amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta) burden is a hallmark of AD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between brain biometals and Abeta burden in AD.
- To determine if biometal changes correlate with dementia severity in AD.
Main Methods:
- Postmortem neocortical tissue from AD patients, controls, and schizophrenia patients were analyzed.
- Levels of zinc, copper, iron, manganese, and aluminum were measured.
- Abeta levels and cognitive impairment (Clinical Dementia Rating Scale) were assessed.
Main Results:
- Significantly higher zinc levels (more than twofold) were found in AD-affected cortex compared to other groups.
- Zinc levels increased proportionally with tissue Abeta burden.
- Elevated zinc correlated with severe dementia (CDR 4-5) and high Abeta load.
Conclusions:
- Brain zinc accumulation is a key feature of advanced Alzheimer disease.
- Increased brain zinc is biochemically linked to Abeta accumulation in AD.
- Zinc accumulation correlates with dementia severity in Alzheimer disease.
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