This circumstance has likely remained unnoticed because the neurodevelopmental and neurotoxic consequences of in utero exposure (along with chronic lifetime exposure) may not become evident until neuronal attrition associated with aging occurs ( Grandjean and Landrigan, 2006).Īrsenic exposure has been linked to a number of neuropathological correlates of AD including production of β amyloid ( Dewji et al., 1995), hyperphosphorylation of tau protein ( Vahidnia et al., 2007), oxidative stress ( Engstrom et al., 2010), inflammation ( Fry et al., 2007 Vega et al., 2001), endothelial cell dysfunction ( Luo et al., 2009) and angiogenesis ( Meng et al., 2010), all of which have been linked to cognitive dysfunction and AD ( Darvesh et al., 2010 Gong and O'Bryant, 2010 Tan et al., 2003 Yin et al., 2010). However, it has been proposed that exposure to environmental toxins, including arsenic, has caused a “silent pandemic” in modern society that has gone undetected ( Grandjean and Landrigan, 2006). The impact of arsenic exposure at low concentrations on neurocognitive functioning has received less attention.
standard of 10μg/L (particularly chronic exposure) ( Fatmi et al., 2009 Focazio et al., 2000 Kapaj et al., 2006 Liao et al., 2009 Navas-Acien et al., 2008 Subcommittee, 1999 Subcommittee to Update, 2001). While the detrimental impact of acute exposure to high concentrations of arsenic on health is well established, prior work has also documented negative consequences of exposure to groundwater arsenic at levels below the current U.S. The current EPA standard for groundwater levels is10μg/L though the long-term health impacts of exposure at low concentrations have received less attention ( Subcommittee, 1999). Inorganic arsenic compounds are released from rocks or industrial and agricultural sources into groundwater ( Garelick et al., 2008), which is the most common means of exposure. Additional work is needed to understand the impact of environmental and dietary factors on the risk for developing AD.Īrsenic, a known neurotoxin, is one of the most toxic environmental pollutants ( Dho et al., 2010). While it has been suggested that the best approach to combating this devastating disease would be through preventative means, the recent NIH Report states there is insufficient evidence to support any current preventative measures, although the report emphasizes diet and nutritional aspects as potentially useful approaches. Despite the billions of dollars expended, current treatments only slow progression and do not fundamentally alter the neuropathological correlates of the disease. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating illness impacting millions of elders, and their loved ones, world-wide ( Thies and Bleiler, 2013).
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