Comprehensive Review Regarding Mercury Poisoning and Its Complex Involvement in Alzheimer's Disease

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 23; no. 4; p. 1992
• Main Authors: Paduraru, Emanuela, Iacob, Diana, Rarinca, Viorica, Rusu, Angelica, Jijie, Roxana, Ilie, Ovidiu-Dumitru, Ciobica, Alin, Nicoara, Mircea, Doroftei, Bogdan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 11-02-2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Alzheimer Disease - chemically induced; Alzheimer's disease; Animals; Apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; Autophagy; Brain - drug effects; Central nervous system; Environmental Exposure - adverse effects; Enzymes; Food contamination & poisoning; Gene expression; Humans; Infertility; Low concentrations; Malfunctions; Mercury - adverse effects; mercury poisoning; Mercury Poisoning - complications; Microflora; Microorganisms; Mitochondria; neurological toxicity; Oxidative stress; Pollutants; Proteins; Review; Thyroid gland; mercury poisoning; autophagy; Alzheimer’s disease; fertility; apoptosis; neurological toxicity; gut microbiota; oxidative stress
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms23041992

Mercury (Hg) is considered one of the most widespread toxic environmental pollutants, which seems to have multiple effects on organisms even at low concentrations. It has a critical role in many health problems with harmful consequences, with Hg primarily targeting the brain and its components, such as the central nervous system (CNS). Hg exposure was associated with numerous CNS disorders that frequently trigger Alzheimer's disease (AD). Patients with AD have higher concentrations of Hg in blood and brain tissue. This paper aims to emphasize a correlation between Hg and AD based on the known literature in the occupational field. The outcome shows that all these concerning elements could get attributed to Hg. However, recent studies did not investigate the molecular level of Hg exposure in AD. The present review highlights the interactions between Hg and AD in neuronal degenerations, apoptosis, autophagy, oxidative stress (OS), mitochondrial malfunctions, gastrointestinal (GI) microflora, infertility and altering gene expression.