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 (epsilon)4 allele is a major risk factor for neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) …. 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 …. 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
Category Archives: Dental
Godfrey et al. (2003) Apolipoprotein E genotyping as a potential biomarker for mercury neurotoxicity
Wojcik et al. (2006) Mercury toxicity presenting as chronic fatigue, memory impairment and depression: diagnosis, treatment, susceptibility, and outcomes in a New Zealand general practice setting (1994-2006)
patients diagnosed as having chronic mercury toxicity (CMT), 32.3% had severe fatigue, 88.8% had memory loss, and 27.5% had depression …. Removal of amalgam mercury fillings when combined with appropriate treatment resulted in a significant symptom reduction (p<0.001) to levels reported by healthy subjects …. This research supports a correlation between a genetic inability to eliminate mercury when the APO- E4 allele has been inherited and an increased incidence of common symptoms and signs of chronic mercury toxicity …. In our experience and that of other investigators, most patients have reached middle-age before presenting with CMT
