Metabolic Abnormalities in Alzheimer Disease

Hoyer S (2000). Brain glucose and energy metabolism abnormalities in sporadic Alzheimer disease. Causes and consequences An update. Experimental Gerontology, 351, 1363-1372. 

Blass JP, Sheu RK, Gibson GE (2000) Inherent abnormalities in energy metabolism in Alzheimer disease. Interaction with cerebrovascular compromise. Ann N Y Acad Sci 903 204-221... 

Cutler, R. G., Kelly, J., Storie, K. et al. Involvement of oxidative stress-induced abnormalities in ceramide and cholesterol metabolism in brain aging and Alzheimer s disease. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 101 2070-2075,2004. 

Until 1993 apolipoprotein E was best known for its central role in plasma lipoproteins and cholesterol transport (Fig. 21-1). However, one of the three common alleles of the apoE gene confers a significant risk of development of Alzheimer disease.12171218 A high blood cholesterol level is also correlated with increased risk.12191220 Membrane abnormalities in mitochondria have been associated with Alzheimer disease.1221 Also related to membranes and lipid metabolism, vitamin E appears to combat Alzheimer disease.843 1218... 

The role of copper in other disease states is being investigated. For Alzheimer s disease studies, it has been found that the amyloid precursor protein interacts with copper to produce increased oxidant damage, and trace amounts of copper promote the precipitation of the amyloid p protein. In familial myotrophic lateral sclerosis about a quarter of the cases are caused by inherited dominant mutations in the Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase that probably result in abnormal Cu binding and the generation of reactive oxygen species. Copper has also been proposed to be involved in prion metabolism and fimction however, whether or not this imphcates copper in the prion diseases is unclear at this time. ... 

Certain inherited diseases are associated with abnormal trace metal metabolism, and this may be linked to MT synthesis, either directly or indirectly. Zinc, copper, and iron are the target elements in several diseases, and their concentrations may be altered in disorders of the central nervous system or other physiological systems, including Alzheimer-type dementia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, acrodermatitis enteropathica, biliary cirrhosis, Wilson s and Menke s diseases (Bremner 1987), epi-... 

David E. Kuhl of the University of Michigan, who developed the first clinical tomography machine in 1963, has focused much of his research on the cholinergic system in Alzheimer s disease. In patients with early Alzheimer s, the postero-lateral part of the brain has decreased glucose metabolism, in regions of abnormal ACh synthesis. 

Blass, J.P., Sheu, K.F., Piacentini, S. and Sorbi, S. 1997. Inherent abnormalities in oxidative metabolism in Alzheimer s disease Interaction with vascular abnormalities. Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 826 382-385... 

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