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Krasnow Institute > Monday Seminars > Abstracts Zinc, Memory, and Alzheimer's Disease Jane Flinn, Department of Psychology, George Mason University The role of metals in the brain is receiving increasing interest. In the past, research was often focused on the adverse effect of iron and zinc deficiencies. However, the effect of increased levels of these metals is now receiving attention. For example, increased levels of iron, zinc and copper have been found in the plaques associated with Alzheimer's Disease in humans. Recently, genetically modified mice which develop plaques have become available for research. In this talk I will discuss the adverse effects on spatial memory that we have found in rats, and in transgenic mice, raised on enhanced levels of zinc in the drinking water. I will also present data obtained from synchrotron X-ray fluorescence showing the association of iron, zinc, and other metals, with amyloid deposits in the human brain.
The Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study |
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