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Effect of copper intake on CSF parameters in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease: a pilot phase 2 clinical trial
Kessler H, Pajonk FG, Bach D, Schneider-Axmann T, Falkai P, Herrmann W, Multhaup G, Wiltfang J et al.. Journal of neural transmission (Vienna, Austria : 1996), 2008-10-30
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
A plethora of reports suggest that copper (Cu) homeostasis is disturbed in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In the present report we evaluated the efficacy of oral Cu supplementation on CSF biomarkers for AD. In a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 clinical trial (12 months long) patients with mild AD received either Cu-(II)-orotate-dihydrate (verum group; 8 mg Cu daily) or placebo (placebo group). The primary outcome measures in CSF were Abeta42, Tau and Phospho-Tau. The clinical trial demonstrates that long-term oral intake of 8 mg Cu can be excluded as a risk factor for AD based on CSF biomarker analysis. Cu intake had no effect on the progression of Tau and Phospho-Tau levels in CSF. While Abeta42 levels declined by 30% in the placebo group (P = 0.001), they decreased only by 10% (P = 0.04) in the verum group. Since decreased CSF Abeta42 is a diagnostic marker for AD, this observation may indicate that Cu treatment had a positive effect on a relevant AD biomarker. Using mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and Alzheimer disease assessment scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog) we have previously demonstrated that there are no Cu treatment effects on cognitive performance, however. Finally, CSF Abeta42 levels declined significantly in both groups within 12 months supporting the notion that CSF Abeta42 may be valid not only for diagnostic but also for prognostic purposes in AD.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Kessler, H., Pajonk, F. G., Bach, D., Schneider-Axmann, T., Falkai, P., Herrmann, W., et al. (2008). Effect of copper intake on CSF parameters in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease: a pilot phase 2 clinical trial. Journal of neural transmission (Vienna, Austria : 1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-008-0136-2
Vancouver
Kessler H, Pajonk FG, Bach D, Schneider-Axmann T, Falkai P, Herrmann W, et al. Effect of copper intake on CSF parameters in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease: a pilot phase 2 clinical trial. Journal of neural transmission (Vienna, Austria : 1996). 2008. doi:10.1007/s00702-008-0136-2. PMID: 18972062.
BibTeX
@article{kessler2008-18972062,
author = {Kessler, H. and Pajonk, F. G. and Bach, D. and Schneider-Axmann, T. and Falkai, P. and Herrmann, W. and Multhaup, G. and Wiltfang, J. and others},
title = {{Effect of copper intake on CSF parameters in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease: a pilot phase 2 clinical trial}},
journal = {Journal of neural transmission (Vienna, Austria : 1996)},
year = {2008},
doi = {10.1007/s00702-008-0136-2},
pmid = {18972062},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-008-0136-2}
}
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Key findings
- A plethora of reports suggest that copper (Cu) homeostasis is disturbed in Alzheimer's disease (AD).
- Since decreased CSF Abeta42 is a diagnostic marker for AD, this observation may indicate that Cu treatment had a positive effect on a relevant AD biomarker.
- Using mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and Alzheimer disease assessment scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog) we have previously demonstrated that there are no Cu treatment effects on cognitive performance, however.
- Finally, CSF Abeta42 levels declined significantly in both groups within 12 months supporting the notion that CSF Abeta42 may be valid not only for diagnostic but also for prognostic purposes in AD.
Why it matters
In this small phase 2 trial, copper supplementation had no effect on cognitive performance in people with mild Alzheimer's disease, although it changed one spinal fluid marker. This does not show that copper treats or prevents Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Study designclinical trial
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 60/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a randomised controlled trial. Scored zero for sample size and effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of neural transmission (Vienna, Austria : 1996)) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Journal of Neural Transmission: journal h-index 167 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomised controlled trial (from PubMed type “Randomized Controlled Trial”) |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2008 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (pubmed indexes it as a clinical or observational study) |
| Randomised / blinded | 2 / 2 | Randomised and blinded or placebo-controlled (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 61 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 3.0 citations a year over 20 year(s) since 2008 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 4 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Thomas A. Bayer: h-index 75 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Göttingen: institution h-index 934 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 6 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 18972062) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 60 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1007/s00702-008-0136-2
- PubMed: 18972062
- Original source →
- Free full text: link.springer.com →
Full text: free to read — Unpaywall lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 10 Oct 2026).
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