Early Lead Exposure Linked to Dementia

Annotated bibliography by Elizabeth O’Brien, BSc (Syd), Grad Dip Ed (Health Education)

The first four references below, were cited by Ted Schettler in an email received by The LEAD Group, and reprinted in LEAD Action News vol 14 no 2, under the heading: Prevalence of dementia in England lower than expected; how to explain it? (18 July 2013). For this edition of LEAD Action News, I have briefly summarised several other references which link lead and dementia, that have been sent to us by Dr Alison Bleaney.

Effects of lead on the adult brain: a 15-year exploration. Stewart WF, Schwartz BS. Am J Ind Med. 2007 Oct;50(10):729-39.

Bone lead levels are associated with measures of memory impairment in older adults. van Wijngaarden E, Campbell JR, Cory-Slechta DA. Neurotoxicology. 2009 Jul;30(4):572-80.

Cumulative lead dose and cognitive function in older adults. Bandeen-Roche K, Glass TA, Bolla KI, Todd AC, Schwartz BS. Epidemiology. 2009 Nov;20(6):831-9.

Interaction of stress, lead burden, and age on cognition in older men: the VA Normative Aging Study. Peters JL, Weisskopf MG, Spiro A 3rd, Schwartz J, Sparrow D, Nie H, Hu H, Wright RO, Wright RJ. Environ Health Perspect. 2010 Apr;118(4):505-10