A recent study has revealed that copper may play a significant role for the inception and enhancement of Alzheimer's disease.
The study was carried out by University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) Department of Neurosurgery, which showed that copper has the ability to accumulate in the brain causing the break down of blood brain barrier, resulting in the toxic deposition of the protein amyloid beta, a by-product of cellular activity.
The study included research on both mice and human brain cells in which a group of researchers conducted a series of experiments that have indicated the molecular mechanisms through which copper accelerates the pathology of Alzheimer's disease.
During the study, the normal mouse with copper was dosed for over a period of three month by the researchers. The dose comprised of trace amounts of the metal in drinking water and was one-tenth of the water quality standards for copper established by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The researchers found that the copper made entered into the blood system and accumulated in the vessels that feed blood to the brain, particularly in the cellular "walls" of the capillaries.
They saw that the copper disturbed the function of LRP1 through a process known as oxidation which, resulted in inhibition of the removal of amyloid beta from the brain.
Moreover, this phenomenon was observed by them both mouse and human brain cells.
The researchers further looked at the effect of copper exposure on mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. In these mice, the cells that form the blood brain barrier had broken down and turned "leaky" - a likely combination of aging and the collective effect of toxic assaults - allowing elements such as copper to pass unobstructed into the brain tissue.
They also observed that the copper acclerated activity in neurons and thus increasing the production of amyloid beta. The copper also interacted with amyloid beta in such a manner that caused the proteins to bind together in larger complexes creating blockage of the protein that the brain's waste disposal system is unable to clear.
This one-two punch, inhibiting the clearance and stimulating the production of amyloid beta, provides strong evidence that copper is a key player in accelerating Alzheimer's disease. In addition to that, the researchers also observed that copper stimulated the inflammation of brain tissue which may further promote the breakdown of the blood brain barrier and the accumulation of Alzheimer's-related toxins.
The study is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
-With inputs ANI
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