Magnesium Affects Beta-Amyloid Deposition

BEIJINGNormalizing brain levels of magnesium may help fight deposition of aggregated beta-amyloid (Abeta) as seen in Alzheimers disease and related dementias (J Alzheimer Dis. July 2010;20(4):1091-1106. DOI: 10.3233/JAD-2010-091444). Researchers from Peking University observed magnesium affects many neurological processes, and previous studies have shown low magnesium levels in Alzheimers patients, although the relationship of magnesium to Alzheimers has not been elucidated.

In this in vitro study, the team examined the effects of physiological (0.8 mM, control), low (0-0.4 mM) and high (1.2-4.0 mM) concentrations of extracellular magnesium on processing of the precursor to Abeta and Abeta secretion. They found the effects on processing to be both time- and dose-dependent, with higher levels supporting retention of the precursor on plasma membrane, while low levels upped the secretion of Abeta in the system. Further, decreased total intracellular magnesium levels impaired cell viability, which could be restored by readjusting magnesium levels to the physiological level.