Sensorimotor Cortex Reorganization in Alzheimer's Disease and Metal Dysfunction: A MEG Study

Autor: C. Salustri, F. Tecchio, F. Zappasodi, L. Tomasevic, M. Ercolani, F. Moffa, E. Cassetta, P. M. Rossini, R. Squitti
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2013
Předmět:
Zdroj: International Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, Vol 2013 (2013)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2090-8024
2090-0252
DOI: 10.1155/2013/638312
Popis: Objective. To verify whether systemic biometals dysfunctions affect neurotransmission in living Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. Methods. We performed a case-control study using magnetoencephalography to detect sensorimotor fields of AD patients, at rest and during median nerve stimulation. We analyzed position and amount of neurons synchronously activated by the stimulation in both hemispheres to investigate the capability of the primary somatosensory cortex to reorganize its circuitry disrupted by the disease. We also assessed systemic levels of copper, ceruloplasmin, non-Cp copper (i.e., copper not bound to ceruloplasmin), peroxides, transferrin, and total antioxidant capacity. Results. Patients’ sensorimotor generators appeared spatially shifted, despite no change of latency and strength, while spontaneous activity sources appeared unchanged. Neuronal reorganization was greater in moderately ill patients, while delta activity increased in severe patients. Non-Cp copper was the only biological variable appearing to be associated with patient sensorimotor transmission. Conclusions. Our data strengthen the notion that non-Cp copper, not copper in general, affects neuronal activity in AD. Significance. High plasticity in the disease early stages in regions controlling more commonly used body parts strengthens the notion that physical and cognitive activities are protective factors against progression of dementia.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals