Alzheimer’s risk from the copper found in tap water Traces of copper found in tap water and everyday foods could weaken the brain’s defences against Alzheimer’s disease, a study suggests. Researchers claim that copper could trigger the onset and speed the progression of the disease by blocking the natural system that clears toxic proteins from the brain. The element is found in water carried by copper pipes and in a wide range of foods including red meat, shellfish, nuts, fruit and vegetables. Small amounts are important for the nervous system, bone growth and regulation of hormone levels. But experiments on mice and on human cells found that copper can also accumulate in the brain and cause the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier, the mechanism that dictates what enters and exits the organ. This means harmful proteins ordinarily cleared from the brain are allowed to build up and form plaques that are a signature of Alzheimer’s disease, researchers said. Dr Rashid Deane, who led the study by scientists from the University of Rochester Medical Centre, said: “The key will be striking the right balance between too little and too much copper consumption.”
Posted on: Sat, 24 Aug 2013 11:09:32 +0000
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