Magnesium in acute and chronic brain injury: an update

"...Neurodegeneration

With respect to chronic brain injury and neurodegeneration, a critical role for magnesium has been implicated in Alzheimer’s disease [8], Huntington’s disease [11], mitochondrial cytopathies [38] and depression [10], although most recent studies have focused on Parkinson’s disease. These recent reports have shown that magnesium deficient mice are susceptible to developing Parkinson’s disease [39], and that magnesium administration is beneficial in an in vitro model of Parkinson’s disease [40]. In effect, they describe that magnesium concentration is critical in disease onset, which is consistent with the earlier finding that magnesium deficiency over a number of generations is associated with the development of Parkinson’s disease [41]. While the exact mechanisms by which magnesium is associated with Parkinson’s disease are unknown, the appearance of variants of the TRPM channels [42] that are linked with magnesium transport suggest that magnesium transporters may play a role in disease onset under some circumstances. This hypothesis is supported by our own studies (unpublished results) that have shown that Parkinson’s disease is associated with reduced TRPM2 and TRPM7 channel mRNA expression. Whether this reduced magnesium transport initiates the inflammation and oxidative stress that have been widely reported in Parkinson’s disease is yet to be investigated. Aside from disease onset, magnesium has also been shown to reduce dyskinesia (abnormal motor movements) in Parkinson’s disease [43], suggesting some interaction between neurotransmitter release and magnesium levels.

Conclusion
Magnesium continues to be of interest to those who study acute and chronic brain injury. Clear associations have now been described between magnesium homeostasis and functional outcome in acute injury, as well as in disease onset and progression in chronic injury and neurodegeneration. However, it is also apparent that just administering magnesium as a therapeutic intervention is a simplistic approach that does not always achieve desired outcomes. Several barriers exist to successful therapeutic intervention, not the least being that experimental models of CNS disease and injury do not always fully replicate the human condition. The role and characterization of magnesium transporters is also becoming increasingly important, particularly in neurodegeneration. While significant progress has been made in understanding the role of magnesium in these various brain pathologies, its therapeutic potential as well the mechanisms associated with its decline, there is still much to be done to fully capitalize the potential of this important ion..."

full paper: http://www.jle.com/en/revues/mrh/e-docs/magnesium_in_acute_and_chronic_brain_injury_an_update_282141/article.phtml?tab=texte