Question - Some investigators have proposed the notion that adult neurodegenerative disease may be related to lead exposure during childhood. What mechanisms have been proposed to account for this potential?
Answer - The cited article notes “Evidence from animal-model and human observational studies suggest that childhood lead exposure may raise the risk of adult neurodegenerative disease, particularly dementia, through a variety of possible mechanisms including epigenetic modification, delayed cardiovascular and kidney disease, direct degenerative CNS injury from lead remobilized from bone, and lowered neural and cognitive reserve.” (Reuben A. Childhood lead exposure and adult neurodegenerative disease” 2018 Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease 64:17–42)