Links between Cognitive Status and Trace Element Levels in Hair for an Environmentally Exposed Population: A Case Study in the Surroundings of the Estarreja Industrial Area

Marina M. S. Cabral Pinto, Paula Marinho-Reis, Agostinho Almeida, Edgar Pinto, Orquídia Neves, Manuela Inácio, Bianca Gerardo, Sandra Freitas, Mário R. Simões, Pedro A. Dinis, Luísa Diniz, Eduardo Ferreira da Silva and Paula I. Moreira
Additional contact information
Marina M. S. Cabral Pinto: Geobiotec Research Centre, Department of Geosciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Paula Marinho-Reis: Instituto de Ciências da Terra, University of Minho, 4710–057 Braga, Portugal
Agostinho Almeida: Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, LAQV/REQUIMTE, Porto University, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
Edgar Pinto: Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, LAQV/REQUIMTE, Porto University, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
Orquídia Neves: CERENA, DECivil, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
Manuela Inácio: Geobiotec Research Centre, Department of Geosciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Bianca Gerardo: Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), University of Coimbra, 3030-548 Coimbra, Portugal
Sandra Freitas: Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), University of Coimbra, 3030-548 Coimbra, Portugal
Mário R. Simões: Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), University of Coimbra, 3030-548 Coimbra, Portugal
Pedro A. Dinis: MARE—Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal
Luísa Diniz: Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, LAQV/REQUIMTE, Porto University, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
Eduardo Ferreira da Silva: Geobiotec Research Centre, Department of Geosciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Paula I. Moreira: CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra and Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3030-548 Coimbra, Portugal

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 22, 1-20

Abstract: In the present study, trace elements (TE) levels were evaluated in scalp hair along the continuum from healthy subjects (HS) to patients suffering from subjective memory concerns (SMC), and/or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and those with already installed dementia (DEM) in order to: (i) assess the effects of environmental and lifestyle factors on TE concentrations and (ii) evaluate the analyzed elements as possible diagnostic biomarkers for the disease. The study involved 79 mainly permanent residents, >55 years old, from the city of Estarreja (northern Portugal), a former industrial area. The health status of the participants was assessed by means of a complete socio-demographic questionnaire and through cognitive screening tests, namely the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The test scores were categorized and used in the statistical analysis. Hair samples were collected and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) ICP-MS for selected TE. Dementia appears to be associated with higher age, the female gender, lower education level, and longer residence time in the study area. In addition, most of the participants diagnosed with dementia frequently consume home-grown foodstuffs, some irrigated with contaminated well water. The calculation of the TE enrichment factors of soil samples collected in kitchen gardens/small farms in the vicinity of the Estarreja Chemical Complex (ECC) reinforces the degree of Hg soil contamination in the area, due to anthropogenic sources that can be a source for the population Hg exposure route among others. Mercury levels in hair differed significantly between the four individual groups (HS, SMC, MCI, and DEM), increasing from healthy to dementia participants. Improved diagnostic results can be obtained using hair TE signatures coupled with MMSE scores. This strategy may prove useful for predictive diagnosis in population screening for cognitive impairment.

Keywords: exposure; trace elements; cognitive impairment; mercury (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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