Mercury Toxicity and Alzheimer's Disease

By William K. Summers, MD
© 2001-William K. Summers, MD

Some years ago one of my patients had most of his silver fillings removed to "rid his body of mercury."

I thought this a bit extreme at the time. Indeed, I still would not recommend this today. Nevertheless I am disturbed by the mounting evidence that remarkably small amounts of mercury can create all of the microscopic changes of Alzheimer's in the brain called neurofibrillary tangles and plaques.

The concentration of mercury in the average American brain varies from 10 - 1,000 nanomolar. Yet one nanomolar (10 -9 Molar) is sufficient to create the brain changes of Alzheimer's disease!

Where did mercury come from? Some comes from diet, for example shellfish and seafood. Some must come from the old fashioned silver fillings (mercury amalgam). The American Dental Association unconvincingly denies this. Some may even come from vaccines which have a mercury-based preservative called thimersol. Where mercury came from is not important. How mercury causes injury is important. The factors influencing mercury in the body seem to make a huge difference in toxicity outcome.

Events can make mercury more toxic. Fungal infections and bacterial infection, especially in the mouth make mercury more toxic. Root canal or periodontal disease are examples. Fungal infections create a sulfur containing nerve toxin called gliotoxin which independently attacks mercury sensitive brain enzymes.

ACTIVE TREATMENTS OF INFECTIONS IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. ACTIVE PREVENTION IS ALSO RECOMMENDED through the use of antioxidants.

Vitamin C and glutathione are the principle water soluble antioxidants in the brain. Regarding Vitamin C, Dr. Linus Pauling was right. Glutathione is a sulfur containing amino acid. Because of the sulfur, glutathione has a very strong detoxifying effect on mercury in the brain. It tends to prevent mercury poisoning of important brain enzymes. Creatine kinase (controls cell energy storage), and glutamine synthetase (detoxifies ammonia) are two pivotal brain enzymes poisoned in the brain. The well known ApoE enzyme and genetic marker is also subject to mercury poisoning through the content of the sulfur containing cystine amino acid.

Mercury is a mineral. It hold special relations with various other minerals. Magnesium, selenium, Sulfur, and possibly manganese may significantly decrease mercury toxicity. Increased toxicity from mercury can follow excessive zinc, cadmium, and copper.

All of this is technical.

The important message is take antioxidant supplements. It may minimize mercury toxicity. Chief among these are Melatonin, a natural occurring brain chemical. Melatonin is usually recommended for sleep in health food store. Other components that should be in a potent antioxidant are vitamin C, glutathione, magnesium, and selenium (less than 400 mcg/day). Alpha lipoic acid is another excellent component to have in your vitamin. Vitamins with substantial amounts of zinc, cadmium and copper should be avoided.

So check the labels on your vitamins.

To your health !