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Role of Aluminum and Iron in Brain Disorders

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Treatment of Dementias

Part of the book series: Advances in Behavioral Biology ((ABBI,volume 40))

Abstract

Aluminum and iron, the two most abundant elements in the earth’s crust, have very similar coordination chemistry1. Both form insoluble hydroxides at physiological pH. However, very early in evolution, living systems recognized the unique redox properties of iron and incorporated it in diverse biological reactions. Indeed, iron is essential to all forms of life. No such use has been discovered for aluminum and, until recently, it was considered harmless. Because all metal ions, including aluminum, are more soluble at acid pH, environmental insults such as acid rain have increased their bioavailability2,3. Living systems are yet to learn to cope with this new class of pollutants.

Supported by the Council for Tobacco Research to J.G.J.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN, 37996-0840, USA

    J. G. Joshi, M. Clauberg & M. S. Dhar

Authors
  1. J. G. Joshi
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  2. M. Clauberg
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  3. M. S. Dhar
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA

    Edwin M. Meyer , James W. Simpkins  & Fulton T. Crews ,  & 

  2. Taiho Pharmaceutical Company, Tokushima, Japan

    Jyunji Yamamoto

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Joshi, J.G., Clauberg, M., Dhar, M.S. (1992). Role of Aluminum and Iron in Brain Disorders. In: Meyer, E.M., Simpkins, J.W., Yamamoto, J., Crews, F.T. (eds) Treatment of Dementias. Advances in Behavioral Biology, vol 40. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3432-7_28

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3432-7_28

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-6518-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-3432-7

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