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Background/aim: To determine whether there was a difference between serum and hair trace elements' concentrations in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) and healthy participants., Materials and Methods: Hair and serum copper, selenium, zinc, magnesium, manganese, and iron levels were measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry in patients with AD and healthy participants, and the obtained results were statistically compared., Results: The mean hair selenium and zinc levels of patients with AD were significantly lower than the levels found for control participants (P < 0.05). Patients with AD had significantly higher mean hair copper and manganese levels than the controls. There were no significant differences between AD patients and controls with respect to the hair iron and magnesium levels (P > 0.05). Hair and serum trace element (copper, selenium, zinc, magnesium, manganese, and iron) levels in patients with AD showed no significant difference according to mini mental test scores or sex (P > 0.05)., Conclusion: Some trace element levels may change in patients with AD. Due to the more permanent status, the analysis of these element levels in hair might be superior to blood analysis.

Background/aim: Alzheimer disease (AD) is characterized by the accumulation of senile plaques composed of amyloid β-peptide, which is derived from β-amyloid precursor protein through degradation by β-secretase and y-secretase complexes. One of the major components of y-secretase complex, anterior pharynx-defective-1 (APH-1), is responsible for the activity of the γ-secretase complex. In this study, we searched for not only the most known common genetic risk factor, APOE, but also the APH-1a gene polymorphism in AD patients in a Turkish population., Materials and Methods: In this study, 49 AD patients and 45 healthy controls were included. The genetic polymorphisms and allele frequencies of APOE and APH-1a were investigated. Patients were evaluated for behavioral, cognitive, and functional domains by detailed neurocognitive tests, and comparison between the above-mentioned polymorphisms and disease severity was made., Results: Although there was an increased tendency of the APO ε4 allele in the AD group, no statistically significant difference was detected either in APOE or APH-1a polymorphisms, not suggesting a strong susceptibility to the development of AD., Conclusion: While searching for the pathogenesis of AD in order to develop novel diagnostic as well as therapeutic approaches, analysis of other genes with a possible role in AD is warranted.

Background/aim: Vascular risk factors play an important role in the progression of Alzheimer disease (AD). Mean platelet volume (MPV) is a determinant of platelet functionality and increased MPV is associated with an increased risk of vascular inflammation. Here we aimed to examine whether MPV could be used as a marker of vascular damage in AD and to discuss the relation between MPV and other vascular risk factors., Materials and Methods: A total of 109 outpatients with AD and 81 healthy controls were included in this study. Diagnosis of AD was made according to defined criteria. The Turkish version of the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used for cognitive assessment. According to the test results, patients were divided into 2 subgroups, mild (MMSE ≥ 18) and moderate (MMSE < 18), and their MPV levels were compared., Results: MPV levels were higher in the AD group. There was no statistically significant difference between the moderate group and the mild group according to MPV values., Conclusion: Increased MPV in patients with AD may point to platelet dysfunction. MPV is an indicator of increased in vivo platelet activation. Hence, platelets could be the link between vascular risk factors and AD. The assessment of MPV in patients with AD may help identify the patients that could benefit from additional antiplatelet therapy.