Effects of Mercury Exposure on Neurodegenerative Diseases: Traditional Review

Abstract

Due to environmental pollution, humans are exposed to various heavy metals, including mercury, in their daily lives. Mercury is common in nature and is used in thermometers, barometers, dental fillings. It is a toxic heavy metal and it exists in three different forms which has toxic effects through different mechanisms. Exposure to mercury causes degradation of proteins, increase in reactive oxygen species and enzyme inhibition. Neurodegenerative disorders are suggested to occur due to defective protein degradation and aggregation, mitochondrial dysfunction related to oxidative stress and free radical formation, and metal toxicity. There are various evidences that mercury and compounds cause neurodegenerative diseases. Because of mercury exposure, toxic effects such as DNA fragmentation and deterioration of the integrity of neurons can be observed. Severe damage to neurons results in neuronal loss, while neuronal loss makes it inevitable to observe neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we summarized the studies about Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis, which are the main neurodegenerative diseases linked to mercury exposure. Studies showed that mercury exposure may be associated with all neurodegenerative diseases, especially Alzheimer’s disease. In summary, it can be stated that mercury may be associated with neurodegeneration and related pathological conditions. © 2024, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Pharmacy. All rights reserved.