Biological metals and Alzheimer's disease: implications for therapeutics and diagnostics

The equilibrium of metal ions is critical for many physiological functions, particularly in the central nervous system, where metals are essential for development and maintenance of enzymatic activities, mitochondrial function, myelination, neurotransmission as well as learning and memory. Due to th...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Progress in neurobiology 2010-09, Vol.92 (1), p.1-18
Main Authors: Duce, James A, Bush, Ashley I
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alzheimer Disease - diagnosis
Alzheimer Disease - drug therapy
Alzheimer Disease - physiopathology
Amyloid beta-Peptides - genetics
Amyloid beta-Peptides - metabolism
Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor - genetics
Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor - metabolism
Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases - genetics
Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases - metabolism
Animals
Apolipoproteins E - genetics
Apolipoproteins E - metabolism
Chelating Agents - therapeutic use
Homeostasis - physiology
Humans
Ions - metabolism
Metals - metabolism
Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism
Synapses - metabolism
tau Proteins - genetics
tau Proteins - metabolism
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The equilibrium of metal ions is critical for many physiological functions, particularly in the central nervous system, where metals are essential for development and maintenance of enzymatic activities, mitochondrial function, myelination, neurotransmission as well as learning and memory. Due to their importance, cells have evolved complex machinery for controlling metal-ion homeostasis. However, disruption of these mechanisms, or absorption of detrimental metals with no known biological function, alter the ionic balance and can result in a disease state, including several neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Understanding the complex structural and functional interactions of metal ions with the various intracellular and extracellular components of the central nervous system, under normal conditions and during neurodegeneration, is essential for the development of effective therapies. Accordingly, assisting the balance of metal ions back to homeostatic levels has been proposed as a disease-modifying therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer's disease as well as other neurodegenerative diseases.
ISSN:0301-0082
1873-5118
DOI:10.1016/j.pneurobio.2010.04.003