The Neurotoxic Effects of Aluminum
Aluminum is a well documented neurotoxin, resulting from the fact that it replaces the usual metal ions in proteins and enzymes, causing a change in the replication rate or decreasing the metabolic rate of the cell1. In normal human brains, the aluminum concentration ranges from zero to 0.6 parts per million (ppm) (dry weight)2.
1 Fasman, G D., and Moore, C.D. "The solubilization of model Alzheimer tangles: Reversing the b-sheet conformation induced by aluminum with silicates." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 91 (1994): 11232- 11235.
2 Hollosi, Miklos et al. "Stable Intrachain and Intrachain complexes of neurofilament peptides: A putative link between Al and Alzheimer disease." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 91 (1994): 4902-4906.
Jennifer McGilton
mcgilton@u.arizona.edu
6 November 1997
http://student.biology.arizona.edu/ad