Serum Trace Metal Levels in Alzheimer's Disease and Normal Control Groups

Objective: To determine whether serum trace metals are related to abnormal cognition in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods: We studied serum lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and arsenic(As) in 89 patients with AD and in 118 cognitively normal individuals. We analyzed the results of the blood tests and the food intake. Results: Serum Pb levels correlated with word list recall (P = .039) and word list recognition (P = .037). Without age adjustment, serum Cd levels (P = .044) were significantly higher in the AD group. After stratified age adjustment, the levels of selected trace metals did not differ significantly between AD 1 and normal individuals. Food intakes regarding selected trace metals were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Conclusions: In this study, serum Pb, Cd, Hg, and As levels were not directly related to abnormal cognition in AD. Serum Pb levels were significantly negatively correlated with verbal memory scores.