So, Could Mercury From Amalgam Cause Alzheimers Disease?
Description
This article is from the Dental Amalgam FAQ, by anonymous.
So, Could Mercury From Amalgam Cause Alzheimers Disease?
The original studies that prompted the "nuns" studies definitely
indicated that mercury could be a cause of Alzheimers. For the
reasons I outlined above, I believe the "nuns" study to be flawed,
and hence this study extracted below (and other similar ones)
stands unrefuted. No other evidence/research stands to refute it.
(NOTE - "Hg" below= Chemical shorthand for Mercury. #1 source of
mercury for humans is Amalgam, as previously discussed)
Authors: Thompson CM; Markesbery WR; Ehmann WD; Mao YX; Vance DE;
Title: Regional brain trace-element studies in Alzheimer's disease.
Address: Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40506.
Journal: Neurotoxicology, 9: 1, 1988 Spring, 1-7
Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain trace-element imbalances in the
amygdala, hippocampus and nucleus basalis of Meynert (nbM) are
found in most cases to be consistent with those previously reported
in samples derived principally from AD cerebral cortex (Ehmann et
al., 1986). The elevation of mercury in AD nbM, as compared to
age-matched controls, is the largest trace-element imbalance observed
to date in AD brain. In addition to the general confirmation of
imbalances for Cs, Hg, N, Na, P, and Rb noted previously in
cerebral cortex samples, imbalances for Fe, K, Sc, and Zn were
observed in two regions and one region also exhibited imbalances
for both Co and Se. Persistent imbalances for the univalent cations
Na, K, Rb and Cs support arguments for a membrane abnormality in AD.
The data presented here also provide the first comprehensive
simultaneous multi-element determinations in both control and AD nbM.
Wenstrup D; Ehmann WD; Markesbery WR; Trace element imbalances
in isolated subcellular fractions of Alzheimer's disease brains.
Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington. Brain
Res, 533: 1, 1990 Nov 12, 125-31
Concentrations of 13 trace elements (Ag, Br, Co, Cr, Cs, Fe,
Hg, K, Na, Rb, Sc, Se, Zn) in isolated subcellular fractions (whole
brain, nuclei, mitochondria, microsomes) of temporal lobe from
autopsied Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and normal controls
were determined utilizing instrumental neutron activation analysis.
Comparison of AD and controls revealed elevated Br (whole brain)
and Hg (microsomes) and diminished Rb (whole brain, nuclear
and microsomes), Se (microsomes) and Zn (nuclear) in AD. The
elevated Br and Hg (Mercury) and diminished Rb are consistent with
our previous studies in AD bulk brain specimens. Comparison of
element ratios revealed increased Hg/Se, Hg/Zn and Zn/Se
mass ratios in AD. Se and Zn play a protective role against
Hg toxicity and our data suggest that they are utilized to
detoxify Hg in the AD brain. Overall our studies suggest that
Hg could be an important toxic element in AD. Whether Hg
deposition in AD is a primary or secondary event remains to
be determined.
-----------------NEW DEVELOPMENT------------------
This is dated Dec 1996 - quite recent. Dr Haleys is a biochemist
of world repute - his work is already well known. He is a member
of the University of Kentucky's huge multi-million dollar
long-term research project examining the causes a Alzheimers
Disease - there are probably very few more eminent or knowledgable
in this field. Dr Murray Vimy is also a researcher of repute, and
a former World Health Organisation consultant. The journal from
which the full extract is quoted (FASEB) is a highly regarded
and main-stream scientific medical publication.
The following quote is from The Valley Advocate, December 5, 1996.
"A team of scientists led by Dr. Boyd Haley recently completed a study
exposing six laboratory rats to a typical intake of amalgam mercury
vapor, diluted to account for the size difference between rats and
humans. To the researchers' astonsihment, every rat developed symptoms
and brain tissue damage indistinguishable from that of Alzheimer's
Disease patients. The reseachers then repeated their experiment only
to find the same results. While the jury is still out for human
patients, the leader of the research team had seen enough. Dr.
Bronte's new book The Mercury in Your Mouth: The Truth About 'Silver'
Dental Fillings quotes Dr. Haley's response to the group's findings.
'The results of this experiment are terrifying,' he said. 'I'm getting
the rest of my fillings taken out right now, and I've asked my wife to
have hers replaced too.'"
Thanks to Dagfinn Reiersol for supplying this newspaper quote..
(See his page: http://home.sol.no/reiersol/amalgam.htm)
TITLE: Mercury Vapor Exposure Inhibits Tubulin Binding to
GTP In Rat Brain: A Molecular Lesion Also Present in
Human Alzheimer Brain.
AUTHORS: Lorscheider, FL; Vimy, MJ; Pendergrass, JC; Haley, BE.
SOURCE: FASEB J. 9(4): A-3845. FASEB Annual Meeting, Atlanta,
Georgia, 10th March 1995.
ABSTRACT: Methyl mercury will interact with tubulin causing
disassembly of microtubules that function to maintain
neurite structure. Numerous reports also establish that
mercury vapor (Hgo) is continuously released from "silver"
amalgam tooth fillings into mouth air. In the present
study rats were exposed to Hgo 4 h/day for 0, 2, 7, 14
and 28 days at 250 mcg Hg/m 3 air, a concentration
present in mouth air of some humans with large numbers
of amalgam fillings. Average rat brain Hg concentrations
increased significantly (40-100 fold) with duration of
Hgo exposure. By day 14 of Hgo exposure, photoaffinity
labelling of the b-subunit of the tubulin dimer with
[a32 P]8N3GTP in brain homogenates was decreased 75%, as
seen on analysis of SDS-PAGE autoradiograms.
The identical neurochemical lesion of similar magnitude
is evident in Alzheimer brain homogenates when compared
to human age-matched controls. Since the rate of
tubulin polymerization is dependent upon binding of
tubulin dimers to GTP, we conclude that chronic inhalation
of low-level Hgo can inhibit polymerization of tubulin
essential for formation of microtubules.
BIO-PROBE COMMENT: This study represents the latest
information possibly connecting mercury to Alzheimer's
Disease (AD). The information began some ten years ago
with human autopsy studies conducted at the University of
Kentucky. Three published studies showed high levels
of mercury in AD brains compared to controls; first
in whole brain tissue, then regional levels where AD
damage is predominant, and finally in cellular and
subcellular fractions. Next, other scientists the
University of Kentucky found AD-type damage in rats
fed mercury, while no damage was found in the
aluminum-fed rats. The next step was the discovery of the
AD-type molecular lesion found in rats that were fed
mercuric chloride in drinking water. This latest study
found the AD-type molecular lesion in rats that were
administered mercury vapor in the amounts to which some
humans with large numbers of amalgam fillings are exposed.
see: http://www.bioprobe.com
Also make sure to read these books: Poison in Your Teeth: Mercury Amalgam (Silver) Fillings...Hazardous to Your Health! and Mercury Detoxification by Tom McGuire
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