Nutraceuticals and nootropics for anti-aging

Copper — the mineral that has Alzheimer’s research in a tizzy

Copper is an essential mineral — mild copper deficiencies produce ailments such as fatigue and skin problems; serious copper deficiencies result in more serious ailments; and a total lack of copper would be quickly fatal. These considerations might be taken as an argument for copper supplementation were it not for the fact that copper deficiencies are thought to be hard to come by.

On the other hand, copper has in recent years been singled out as a cause of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, ALS, mad cow disease, and multiple sclerosis. It has been observed that copper, zinc and iron interact with certain brain proteins, such as ‘beta-amyloid’, and seem to induce them to form plaques in the brain. These plaques are thought to disrupt and kill nearby nerve cells both by their physical presence and by increasing the production of destructive free radicals. There is plenty of evidence for the involvement of these metals in the formation of Alzheimer’s plaques, and the removal of these metals is the focus of new experimental treatments — clioquinol, for example.

But wait… ignore everything I just said: news has just arrived that copper may be a treatment for Alzheimer’s rather than a cause! Two recent reports suggest exactly that. Higher copper levels in the brains of mice seem to correlate with reduced plaque build-up. And mice given extra copper in their diet have reduced build-up of amyloid plaques. (Interestingly, a recent paper reported that feeding rabbits extra copper caused an increase in beta-amyloid plaques. However the rabbits, unlike the mice, were being fed large amounts of cholesterol in addition to copper.)

What are we to make of all this? It seems as if copper supplements, combined with a low-cholesterol regimen, might be a method for preventing or treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Link to various articles concerning copper, zinc, plaques, and treatments:

Copper Linked to Alzheimer's Disease

Zinc takes the center stage: its paradoxical role in Alzheimer's disease.

Metal complexing agents as therapies for Alzheimer's disease.

Copper May Guard Against Alzheimer's