The increase of dementia is noteworthy and the low rate of cases with strict genetic aetiology highlights the necessity of investigating environmental factors contributing to its pathogenesis. Although long-term exposure to Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) has been proposed as one possible cause of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the specific influence of PTEs on cognitive decline remains unexplored.
We aim to study long-term exposure to PTEs as risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia. Firstly, we will explore discrepancies in cognitive performance of exposed and non-exposed individuals. We will assess how different PTEs affect specific cognitive abilities and their impact over time in cognition. By including clinical samples, we intend to investigate the presence of PTEs in patients and to assess their relationship with genetic risk and biomarkers of AD. Therefore, we aim to contribute for further understanding of the impact of toxicants in cognition and their role in the increment of dementia cases.
