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Dietary Trace Elements and the Pathogenesis of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Authors :
Masahiro Kawahara
Midori Kato-Negishi
Ken-ichiro Tanaka
Source :
Nutrients. 15:2067
Publication Year :
2023
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2023.

Abstract

Trace elements such as iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) are absorbed from food via the gastrointestinal tract, transported into the brain, and play central roles in normal brain functions. An excess of these trace elements often produces reactive oxygen species and damages the brain. Moreover, increasing evidence suggests that the dyshomeostasis of these metals is involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, prion diseases, and Lewy body diseases. The disease-related amyloidogenic proteins can regulate metal homeostasis at the synapses, and thus loss of the protective functions of these amyloidogenic proteins causes neurodegeneration. Meanwhile, metal-induced conformational changes of the amyloidogenic proteins contribute to enhancing their neurotoxicity. Moreover, excess Zn and Cu play central roles in the pathogenesis of vascular-type senile dementia. Here, we present an overview of the intake, absorption, and transport of four essential elements (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn) and one non-essential element (aluminum: Al) in food and their connections with the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases based on metal–protein, and metal–metal cross-talk.

Details

ISSN :
20726643
Volume :
15
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Nutrients
Accession number :
edsair.doi...........055baf513cb72180d16d6d3f554f5d35
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15092067