Non Ceruloplasmin Copper Distinguishes A Distinct Subtype of Alzheimer's Disease: A Study of EEG Derived Brain Activity.
BACKGROUND Meta analyses show that percentages of non Cp Cu copper that is not bound to ceruloplasmin (also known as 'free' copper) in serum are higher in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Genetic heterogeneity in AD patients stratified on the basis of non Cp Cu cut off sustains the existence of a copper AD metabolic subtype. Non Cp Cu abnormalities correlated with alterations of electroencephalographic rhythms (EEG) OBJECTIVE We aimed to determine whether an EEG derived brain cortical rhythm's heterogeneity between two AD groups stratified on the basis of a copper marker. METHOD We assessed levels of copper, ceruloplasmin, Non Cp Cu, and the APOE4 genotype in 67 AD patients and compared resting EEG derived eLORETA cortical rhythms between AD groups stratified in terms of 'Normal' and 'High' non Cp Cu. RESULTS The High non Cp Cu group experienced a lower power in all bands (0.2 48 Hz) in the parietal cortices (p=0.019) and a more limited alpha band (8 13 Hz) power in the sensory lobes (temporal, occipital, and parietal p>0.05 consistently) than the Normal non Cp Cu AD group. When corrected for MMSE, the non Cp Cu levels correlated with a reduction of high frequency brain activity (from high alpha to gamma, 10.5 48 Hz) CONCLUSION This neurophysiological heterogeneity in EEG derived brain cortical rhythms between the two AD groups sustains a copper AD metabolic subtype; Non Cp Cu is a marker of this copper AD.
Current Alzheimer research