Association of Blood Levels of Lead, Cadmium, Arsenic, Zinc, Copper and Selenium in Early Onset Dementia Female Patients in Owerri, Nigeria

Background: Environmental exposure to heavy metals may be associated with brain damage and thus dementia. Objective: This study was carried out to appraise the blood levels of heavy metals; Lead (Pb), Arsenic (As) Cadmium (Cd) and trace metals; Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu) and Selenium (Se) in female dementia patients in Owerri, Nigeria. Method: A total of 40 female subjects within the age of 40 to 65 years participated in the study. This comprises of 20 female patients of any type of dementia and 20 female controls. Venous blood samples were collected aseptically from the subjects by venipuncture using sterile syringes and dispensed into lithium heparin tubes, mixed gently and then stored refrigerated at 2-8℃. Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Arsenic (As), Zinc (Zn), Selenium (Se) and Copper (Cu) were analyzed using Varian AA240 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. SPSS version 21 was employed in the statistical analysis of the obtained data. Results: There were significantly higher mean values of Lead, Cadmium and Arsenic compared to the controls, while there were significantly lower mean values of Selenium, Zinc and Copper in Dementia subjects, compared to the controls. Conclusion: This study observed higher levels of Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Arsenic (As) and lower levels of Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu) and Selenium (Se) parallel to controls, these findings can be implicated in the pathogenesis of dementia.