The efficacy of 8 mg of copper daily regarding cognitive function, content of beta amyloid protein in the CSF and volumetric changes in the brain will be examined in a first double-blind, placebo-controlled human clinical trial conducted in 70 patients with mild Alzheimer´s dementia.

Inclusion Criteria:

• male or female patients
• between 50 and 80 years
• criteria of mild dementia
• probable Alzheimer´s dementia according to NINCDS-ADRDA criteria
• given written informed consent
• having a relative who can fill out questionnaire; caregiver consent
• free of serious and unstable somatic illness

Exclusion Criteria:

• unable to give informed consent
• unable to take cholinesterase inhibitors
• unapproved medication
• moderate to severe Alzheimer´s disease
• dementia of other etiology
• history of alcohol, drug or medication abuse
• other psychiatric disorder, e. g. schizophrenia
• known copper and zinc storage disease
• known copper and zinc intolerance
• vegans
• known severe allergies or intolerances
• insufficient knowledge of the German language
• female patients of childbearing potential, pregnant or nursing patients
• participation in a clinical trial within the past 30 days before onset of this study
• severe somatic diseases and high mortality rate AST, ALT, GGT, GLDH, AP or bilirubin being a two-fold above the normal range