Barlow P J, Francois P E, Goldberg I J, Richardson I, Izmeth M G, Kumpeson K, Sykes P
J R Soc Med. 1986 Oct;79(10):581-3. doi: 10.1177/014107688607901007.
Gross metal poisoning as a causative factor in mental handicap is now relatively rare although historically it was important. Currently attention is being focused on the importance of chronic metal poisoning, there being much debate on, for instance, the possible effects of low levels of lead on intelligence in childhood. This paper examines the levels of a number of metals, both toxic and essential, in two groups of agitated patients in a long-stay psychiatric hospital in the UK. The two groups examined comprise 'hyperactive' mentally handicapped children and senile dementia patients, all of whom showed moderate to severe agitation. Blood and hair tissue were used to assess the body status of a number of metals and the results were compared with controls matched as closely as possible and from a similar hospital environment. The most significant findings are the raised levels of aluminium in the agitated senile dementia patients and the low levels of zinc and raised levels of lead in the hyperactive children.
尽管从历史角度来看金属中毒是导致智力缺陷的一个重要因素，但如今严重的金属中毒已相对罕见。目前，注意力正集中在慢性金属中毒的重要性上，例如，关于低水平铅对儿童智力可能产生的影响存在诸多争议。本文检测了英国一家长期精神病院中两组躁动不安患者体内多种有毒和必需金属的含量。所检测的两组患者分别是“多动型”智力缺陷儿童和老年痴呆患者，他们均表现出中度至重度的躁动。通过血液和毛发组织来评估多种金属的身体状况，并将结果与来自类似医院环境、尽可能匹配的对照组进行比较。最显著的发现是，躁动的老年痴呆患者体内铝含量升高，而多动儿童体内锌含量低且铅含量升高。
