Originally published October 11 2005
University scientists explore dietary copper as a possible Alzheimer's treatment
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Dr. Thomas Bayer and Dr. Frank Pajonk, at Saarland University Medical Center, are currently leading a clinical trial that will help to determine the effects of dietary copper as a therapy for Alzheimer's patients.
Treatment starts after all prerequisites to participate have been met.
Half of the patients receive 8 mg copper orotate per day, the other half a placebo.
During the 12-month long double-blind phase, there will be extensive laboratory, clinical and neuropsychological tests.
After the double-blind phase, we offer an open-label phase for all patients.
At present, 15 patients have finished the double-blind phase.
Alzheimer is characterized by the presence of amyloid plaques, which are composed primarily of A� peptide.
A� is produced within neurons and is liberated from the larger amyloid � protein precursor (A�PP).
Lower levels of copper have been reported in the brain of A�PP transgenic mice and post-mortem in AD patients.
This concept has been found to be true also in vitro by Professor Dr. Gerd Multhaup (FU Berlin) in 1999.
Two recent papers, which have been published in PNAS in 2003 have proven a beneficial effect of elevated copper in transgenic A�PP mice.
In the present study, the teams led by Bayer and Multhaup have found that low copper level in blood correlates with advanced memory deficits, as tested by the well established ADAS-cog neuropsychological test battery.
Patients with higher blood copper levels make fewer mistakes in this memory test.
This result supports the notion of a mild copper deficiency in AD patients.
An increased uptake of dietary copper may therefore be therapeutically relevant.
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