Oxidative damage in Alzheimer's dementia, and the potential etiopathogenic role of aluminosilicates, microglia and micronutrient interactions.

Abstract

While evidence implicating free radical oxidative processes in the etiopathogenesis of Alzheimer's dementia is accumulating, the specific cellular and biochemical mechanisms involved remain to be identified. The potential pathogenic role of microglial cells in neurodegenerative processes is indicated by the finding that purified murine microglial cells exposed in vitro to various model aluminosilicate particles stimulate the generation of tissue-injurious free radical reactive oxygen metabolites. Analogous inorganic aluminosilicate deposits have been reported to occur in the core of the characteristic senile plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer disease subjects. The possible modulation of free radical oxidative activity by antioxidant micronutrients and pharmacological agents, provides a rational basis for further preventative and therapeutic clinical investigations.