Heavy metals exposure and Alzheimer’s disease: Underlying mechanisms and advancing therapeutic approaches
Abstract
Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic are prevalent in the environment due to both natural and anthropogenic sources, leading to significant public health concerns. These heavy metals are known to cause damage to the nervous system, potentially leading to a range of neurological conditions including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis (MS), and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The present study examines the complex relationship between heavy metal exposure and AD, focusing on the underlying mechanisms of toxicity and potential therapeutic approaches. This review article highlights how these metals can impair brain function through mechanisms such as oxidative stress, inflammation, and neurotransmitter disruption, ultimately contributing to neurodegenerative diseases like AD. It also addresses the challenges in diagnosing heavy metal-induced cognitive impairments and emphasizes the need for further research to explore effective treatment strategies and preventive measures against heavy metal exposure.
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Dysregulation of metal homeostasis, particularly iron, copper, and zinc, is implicated in amyloid aggregation and oxidative injury in AD.
“Dysregulation of metal homeostasis, particularly iron, copper, and zinc, has been implicated in both amyloid aggregation and oxidative injury [14, 15].”
From Toward a Unified Framework in Molecular Neurobiology of Alzheimer’s Disease: Revisiting the Pathophysiological Hypotheses (2026) · cites this paper as [14]
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Hein, Z. M., Karikalan, B., Gopalakrishna, P. K., Dhevi, K., Alkatiri, A., Hussan, F., Mohd Moklas, M. A., Jagadeesan, S., Che Ramli, M. D., Che Mohd Nassir, C. M. N., et al. (2026) · Molecular Neurobiology · doi:10.1007/s12035-025-05602-0 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
- Authors
- Althobaiti, N. A.
- Affiliations
- Shaqra University (SA)
- Corresponding author
- Althobaiti, Norah A.
- ORCID
- Althobaiti, Norah A.
- Venue
- Behavioural Brain Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2025-01
- Volume
- 476
- Pages
- 115212
- ISSN
- 0166-4328 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4401840749
- Cited by
- 64
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 28 · 2025: 32 · 2024: 4
- FWCI
- 2.53
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Behavioural Brain Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Heavy Metal Exposure and Toxicity
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Aluminum toxicity and tolerance in plants and animals
- Keywords
- heavy metal exposure, Alzheimer's disease, lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, neurotoxicity, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, neurodegenerative diseases, cognitive impairment, treatment options, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- MeSH terms
- Alzheimer Disease, Animals, Brain, Environmental Exposure, Humans, Oxidative Stress, Metals, Heavy
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