Possible relationship and exposure of aluminium and Alzheimer's diseases

Svrha ovog rada je prikazati svojstva i djelovanje aluminija kao mogućeg etiološkog čimbenika u patofiziologiji Alzheimerove bolesti, s naglaskom na epidemiološke studije vode za piće i biokemijske i stanične pokazatelje dobivene kao rezultat animalnih i in vitro postupaka. Aluminij se prirodno nalazi u hrani. U industrijski prerađenoj hrani se nalazi u obliku aditiva, a u biljnoj apsorbiran iz tla gdje se prirodno nalazi. Aluminij se nalazi i u vodi za piće gdje dolazi kao prirodno otopljeni, ili kao dodatak pri pročišćavanju vode. Količina aluminija u vodi za piće čini do 5% ukupnog dnevnog unosa pa je moguće da u vodi postoje drugi čimbenici koji sprečavaju ili čak potiču povećanu apsorpciju aluminija. Voda sa otopljenim silikatima i fluoridima smanjuje apsorpciju aluminija u probavnom sustavu. Pojedini kozmetički preparati sadrže aluminij, a nalazi se i u cjepivima. Antacidi i puferirani aspirini mogu sadržavati aluminij. Iako široko rasprostranjen, aluminij nije esencijalan za život. Prepoznat je kao neurotoksin koji djeluje na biološke sustave i izaziva različite štetne utjecaje. Povezanost aluminija i Alzheimerove bolesti je predmet rasprave već nekoliko desetljeća pri čemu se dovodi u vezu i s drugim neurodegenerativnim bolestima. Međutim, složene osobine aluminijske bioraspoloživosti čine ga zahtjevnim za istraživanja tako da se čvrsta uzročno-posljedična veza tek treba ustanoviti. Mnogi dokazi upućuju na važnost oligomerizacije beta amiloidnog proteina i neurotoksičnosti u patofiziologiji Alzheimerove bolesti.The purpose of this paper is to show properties and activity of aluminium as a potential etiological factor in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease, with a focus on the epidemiological studies on drinking water and biochemical and cellular parameters which are the result of animal and in vitro experiments. Aluminium is a content of food. In the processed foods it is used as an additive, while in the plant foods it is absorbed from soil, where it is naturally present. Aluminium is also a content of drinking water as a naturally dissolved element, or as an additive in water purification. The amount of aluminum in drinking water makes up to 5% of the total daily intake, so it is possible that in the water are other factors that hinder or even encourage increased absorption of aluminum. Water with dissolved silicates and fluoride reduces the absorption of aluminum in the digestive system. Some cosmetics contain aluminum, as well as vaccines. Antacids and buffered aspirin may contain aluminium. Although being enviromentally abundant, aluminium is not essential for life. It is a widely recognised neurotoxin that inhibits biological systems and causes various adverse effects. The relationship between aluminium exposure and Alzheimer's disease has been the subject of scientific debate for several decades. However, the complex characteristics of aluminium bioavailability make it difficult to evaluate and therefore, the relationship remains to be established. Mounting evidence has suggested that significance of oligomerization of beta-amyloid protein and neurotoxicity in the Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology