Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. It is characterized by a progressive cognitive impairment clinically, and excessive deposits of aggregated amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides pathologically. Environmental factors, including nutrition and metal elements, are implicated in the pathophysiology of AD. Magnesium (Mg) affects many biochemical mechanisms vital for neuronal properties and synaptic plasticity, including the response of N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors to excitatory amino acids, stability and viscosity of the cell membrane, and antagonism of calcium. Mg levels were found to be decreased in various tissues of AD patients and negatively correlated with clinical deterioration. Moreover, Mg was demonstrated to modulate the trafficking and processing of amyloid-β precursor protein, which plays a central role in the pathogenesis of AD. Here, we review in vitro and in vivo data that indicated a role for magnesium in many biological and clinical aspects of AD.
© 2011 The Authors.