Background: Bromine is a naturally occurring element that is widely present in the human environment in various chemical forms primarily as flame retardants, pesticides, and water treatments.
Objective: In this exploratory study, we investigated the association of brain bromine concentrations on Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology, cerebral infarcts, and Lewy bodies.
Methods: The study was conducted in 215 deceased participants of the Memory and Aging Project, a clinical-pathologic cohort study. Brain bromine levels were measured using instrumental neutron activation analysis. Multiple brain regions were assessed for diffuse and neuritic plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, cerebral macro-and microinfarcts, and Lewy bodies. Standardized measures of AD pathology (Braak, CERAD, NIA-Reagan, global AD pathology) were computed.
Results: In linear regression models, the higher brain bromine levels were associated with more AD neuropathology (Braak (p trend = 0.01); CERAD (p trend = 0.02); NIA-Reagan (p trend = 0.02).
Conclusion: Bromine accumulation in the brain is associated with higher level of AD neuropathology. The potential deleterious effects of this element on AD need further exploration.
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; bromine; metals; neuropathology.