Pathogenic mechanisms of heavy metal induced-Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease is an increasing neurodegenerative disease in the aging population. The disease is associated with toxic chemicals of industrial origin. Industrial processes can result in airborne contamination such as fine dust, and water and soil contamination. In the processes, heavy metals are one of the major environmental pollutants. Also, heavy metals are widely used for many appliances. In particular, heavy metals are seriously toxic to the neural system. In several studies, researchers have emphasized the toxicity of heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, as a cause of neurofibrillary tangles, aggregation amyloid beta peptides (AβPs) as well as neuronal cell loss. Based on neurotoxic studies showing that heavy metals induce Alzheimer’s disease, this paper discusses molecular mechanisms by which exposure to heavy metals contributes to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. Also, we indicate pathway for heavy metal related Alzheimer’s through integrated analysis based on molecular networks. We suggest that the study of signaling networks contributes to our ability to select significant factors for curing heavy metal induced Alzheimer’s disease. © The Korean Society of Environmental Risk Assessment and Health Science and Springer 2018.