Determination of blood mercury concentrations in Alzheimer's patients.

Trace element neurotoxicity can be an etiologic factor for Alzheimer's disease. This cross sectional clinical study determined blood mercury in patients with diagnosed Alzheimer's disease as compared to control subjects without known central nervous system and renal disorders. Unique within the confines of a nursing home, all subjects were exposed to the same environment and consumed a diet without fish and seafood for a period of three months prior to the study. The results of this study show that blood mercury concentrations detected in subjects with Alzheimer's disease were not statistically different than that of control subjects. Ratios of blood mercury to blood selenium were also determined and no statistical difference was found between these two groups.