| Hair and nail samples from Alzheimer's disease (AD) and control subjects were analyzed for seventeen trace elements using the technique of instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). The major goal of the work was to demonstrate any differences in hair or nail trace element levels that might exist between diseased and control subjects.; Statistical analysis of 131 hair and 150 nail samples revealed that the hair of AD subjects had significantly (p < 0.05) higher levels of Br and lower levels of Co than did the hair of properly matched controls. The nail of AD subjects was significantly (p < 0.05) enriched in the elements Br, K, and Na, and depleted in the elements Ag and Hg, as compared to matched controls. It is of considerable interest to note that imbalances in four of these six elements have previously been noted in the brain of AD patients by other investigators, although the imbalances are not always in the same direction.; The meaning of these trace element imbalances is not known. They may represent causes, effects, or simply epiphenomena. Some ideas regarding possible interpretation of the results are presented, including trace element effects on enzymes, the blood-brain barrier, and membranes.; In addition to the major objective, the work has also made a significant contribution to the existing data on trace element levels in nails, demonstrated for the first time the effects of age and sex on the levels of several elements in nails, and implemented a statistical treatment not previously used for hair and nail trace element data. |
