Does EDTA affect say metals that are in the brain? Can it cross the blood/brain barrier?

Question

Does EDTA affect say metals that are in the brain? Can it cross the blood/brain barrier?

Answer 1

EDTA can bind to almost every metal, including calcium ions which play a vital role in the operation of all cells including nerve cells.

It is used in chelation therapy, which is a very dangerous kind of fringe medicine.  You don't want to go there.

Answer 2

I'm not sure you get a lot of metals in brain tissue. Aluminium was thought to be the cause of Alzheimers disease years ago as it was found in the plaques. However, it was realised that the metal wan't really the cause as our knowledge about misfolded proteins in cells increased...the metal was simply fitting the gap left by the dead brain cells. Amines definitely can cross the blood brain barrier because people with liver failure get a dementia from increased amines in their blood stream. EDTA is an amine and Drugs.com seems to indicate it does cross the blood brain barrier. I know from my heavy metal lectures in 1990 that its used in lead/mercury poisoning but is less sucessful at removing deposits from brain tissues than more accessible tissues. The whole issue of heavy metal toxicity is really minor nowadays due to stricter environmental rules. Sir Isaac Newton was a brilliant chemist and used to taste his chemicals to identify them. He developed lead toxicity which slowed his thoughts down but didn't reduce his IQ- the theory of gravitation was formulated at this stage of his lead problem!!! I think with lead free petrol and lead free water pipes a lot of this technology is now irrelevant