摘要：A characterizing feature in neurodegenerative pathologies is their multi-factorial etiogenesis
associated with aging, biological susceptibility and environmental factors. Recently, it has been
suggested that some chemical elements play a role in the arising of neurodegenerative
phenomena. In normal physiological situations homeostatic mechanisms, the brain blood barrier
and the energy required for metal transport can interplay as efficient defence systems. In neurodegenerative
disorders alterations of the brain blood barrier together with energy compromises
could allow an abnormal movement of metals in the brain compartments. Cytotoxic effects can
arise from disturbances in metal homeostasis, most likely as result of their involvement in
oxidative damage processes. In this context, a better and a full comprehension of the role of
chemical elements in neurodegenerative disorders is increasingly required. In this monograph of
Annali a noteworthy and updated overview by L. M. Sayre and colleagues reports on the
involvement of metals and oxidative stress in neurodegenerations such as Alzheimer’s and
Parkinson’s diseases and in the demyelinating disease multiple sclerosis. Follows, a series of
papers dealing with the results of researches focused on the metal monitoring in biological fluids
of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis patients. These contributions show how a
multi-disciplinary approach, from analytical chemistry, to the biomonitoring, neurology,
epidemiology and toxicology fields, can be useful, if not mandatory, to highlight aspects about
interaction between biological and environmental factors in the neuropathogenesis. In the paper
by B. Bocca et al. the development of analytical methodologies is reported, whilst in that one by
S. Costantini et al. a proficiency test carried out to optimize the performances of the Italian
chemical laboratories network is described. A. Alimonti et al. present the reference values of the
chemical elements under study, obtained from a healthy urban population utilized as control
group vs patients. The contribution of G. Forte et al. examines the level of metals and of oxidative
stress in the peripheral fluids of Parkinson’s patients. Analogously, the two next papers, by B.
Bocca et al. and by G. Bomboi et al., discuss the metal body concentrations and clinical aspects
in subjects affected by Alzheimer’s disease. G. Forte et al. and A. Visconti present a detailed
examination on the blood elements imbalances and data relating to a six-month follow-up study
on groups of multiple sclerosis’ patients. Finally, the last contribution of A. Pino et al. shows the
capability of statistical multivariate tests to elucidate the possible sets of variables able to
discriminate between pathological and healthy subjects.
