JAD
Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
Volume 5, Number 3, June 2003, Pages 189-195

Michael E. Godfrey, Damian P. Wojcik, Cheryl A. Krone
(Communicated by Ralph Martins)

Apolipoprotein E genotyping as a potential biomarker for mercury neurotoxicity

Abstract: Apolipoprotein-E (apo-E) genotyping has been investigated as an indicator of susceptibility to heavy metal (i.e., lead) neurotoxicity. Moreover, the apo-E epsilon (e)4 allele is a major risk factor for neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). A theoretical biochemical basis for this risk factor is discussed herein, supported by data from 400 patients with presumptive mercury-related neuro-psychiatric symptoms and in whom apo-E determinations were made. A statistically relevant shift toward the at-risk apo-E e4 groups was found in the patients (p<0.001). The patients possessed a mean of 13.7 dental amalgam fillings and 31.5 amalgam surfaces. This far exceeds the number capable of producing the maximum identified tolerable daily intake of mercury from amalgam. The clinical diagnosis and proof of chronic low-level mercury toxicity has been difficult due to the non-specific nature of the symptoms and signs. Dental amalgam is the greatest source of mercury in the general population and brain, blood and urine mercury levels increase correspondingly with the number of amalgams and amalgam surfaces in the mouth. Confirmation of an elevated body burden of mercury can be made by measuring urinary mercury, after provocation with 2,3,-dimercapto-propane sulfonate (DMPS) and this was measured in 150 patients. Apo-E genotyping warrants investigation as a clinically useful biomarker for those at increased risk of neuropathology, including AD, when subjected to long-term mercury exposures. Additionally, when clinical findings suggest adverse effects of chronic mercury exposure, a DMPS urine mercury challenge appears to be a simple, inexpensive procedure that provides objective confirmatory evidence. An opportunity could now exist for primary health practitioners to help identify those at greater risk and possibly forestall subsequent neurological deterioration.

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

I am sending this note along with the following article by my friend and colleague, Mike Godfrey from New Zealand. He is a leader in the field of medicine by whatever name you wish to call it. He sent me the article yesterday and in response to my distribution question he said the following:

Please send the paper to anyone you want as the more it gets out the more that people will start asking for the apo-E genotyping to be done. We're now working on autistics and their families and early indications are strongly supporting an apo-E4 connection and thus an inability to cope with lead, mercury, and possibly tin, cadmium, aluminum etc. It could be that genetic Asperger's and other similar conditions would remain asymptomatic unless exposed to heavy metals.