Trace metal abnormalities in long-stay hyperactive mentally handicapped children and agitated senile dements

Gross metal poisoning as a causative factor in mental handicap is now relatively rare although historically it was important. Currently attention is being focused on the importance of chronic metal poisoning, there being much debate on, for instance, the possible effects of low levels of lead on intelligence in childhood. This paper examines the levels of a number of metals, both toxic and essential, in two groups of agitated patients in a long-stay psychiatric hospital in the UK. The two groups examined comprise 'hyperactive' mentally handicapped children and senile dementia patients, all of whom showed moderate to severe agitation. Blood and hair tissue were used to assess the body status of a number of metals and the results were compared with controls matched as closely as possible and from a similar hospital environment. The most significant findings are the raised levels of aluminium in the agitated senile dementia patients and the low levels of zinc and raised levels of lead in the hyperactive children.