Neurotoxicity of Aluminum

This book reviews the scientific literature and the authors’ own research linking aluminum neurotoxicity with cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). It focuses on aluminum levels in the brain, region-specific and subcellular distribution, and its relation to neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid beta. Further, the book stresses the importance of aluminum’s complex speciation chemistry in relation to biology, and details aluminum’s mechanism in oxidative stress and cell death, especially in connection with apoptosis and necroptosis. The electrophysiological variation and synaptic plasticity induced by aluminum are covered, while the metal’s debatable role in AD and the cross-talk between aluminum and genetic susceptibility are also discussed. In closing, the book reviews the neurotoxic effects of aluminum and its important role in the pathogenesis of AD. Given its depth of coverage, the book provides readers with a systematic summary of aluminum neurotoxicity. 

Dr. Qiao Niu is a professor and director of the Department of Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University. He is also director of the Institute of Preventive Medicine at the same university. Dr. Niu is executive director of the Chinese Society for Toxicology, and of the Labor Health and Occupational Disease Branch of the Chinese Preventive Medicine Association. His research focuses on neurotoxicology, an area in which he has published more than 100 research articles.