Considerations on the Roles and Homoeostasis of Essential Trace Elements in the Human Brain

The brain is a central organ in all animals (with exception of some invertebrates) that controls very relevant roles in the organism. Its activity requires several metabolic pathways in which essential trace elements are important players, and whose performances are related with their (bio)chemical features. Despite their specificities, an integrated approach of the essential trace elements in brain, based on their homoeostasis and competition with other elements (including toxic ones) can promote links among different research fields related with this organ. Roles and hypothetical activities of essential trace elements (chromium, cobalt, copper, iodide, manganese, molybdenum, selenium and zinc) in brain will be discussed.