Brain Bromine Levels Associated with Alzheimer's Disease Neuropathology.

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.In this exploratory study, we investigated the association of brain bromine concentrations on Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology, cerebral infarcts, and Lewy bodies.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.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).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.