Preface. Why is research into aluminium and life important? (C. Exley). Aluminium induced disease in subjects with and without renal failure - does it help us understand the role of aluminium in Alzheimer's disease? (P. Altmann). Aluminium-induced bone disease: implications for Alzheimer's disease (K. Abreo). The epidemiology of aluminium and Alzheimer's disease (V. Rondeau, D. Commenges). Absorption of aluminium from antiperspirants and vaccine adjuvants (R. Flarend). The aetiology of Alzheimer's disease: diverse routes into a common tau pathway? (C.R. Harrington). The association of aluminium and neurofibrillary degeneration in Alzheimer's disease, a personal perspective (D.P. Perl). Aluminium and gene transcription in the mammalian central nervous system - implications for Alzheimer's disease (W.J. Lukiw). Behavioral studies in animals: past and potential contribution to the understanding of the relationship between aluminium and Alzheimer's disease (M.S. Golub). Aluminium as an experimental neurotoxicant: the neuropathology and neurochemistry (M.J. Strong). The rabbit model system for studies of aluminum-induced neurofibrillary degeneration; relevance to human neurodegenerative disorders (J. Savory, O. Ghribi, M.M. Herman). Aluminium and iron in Alzheimer's disease (P.C. d'Haese, M.E. de Broe). Alumiunium toxicokinetics at the blood-brain barrier (R.A. Yokel). Aluminium toxicity in erythropoiesis: mechanisms related to cellular dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease (A. Nesse, G. Garbossa). Aluminium, membranes and Alzheimer's disease (P. Zatta, M. Suwalski). Iron homeostasis and aluminium toxicity (R.J. Ward, R.R. Crichton). Oxidative and inflammatory properties of aluminium: possible relevance in Alzheimer's disease (S.C. Bondy, A. Campbell). Glutamatergic neurotransmisson, aluminium and Alzheimer's disease (V. Felipo). Aluminium-induced alteration of phosphoinositide and calcium signalling (W.R. Mundy, T.J. Schafer). The interaction of aluminium with peptides and proteins (T. Kiss, M. Hollósi). Calmodulin, aluminium and Alzheimer's disease (B. Solomon). Aluminium, tau and neurofibrillary degeneration (R.-W. Shin). The association of aluminium and &Bgr; amyloid in Alzheimer's disease (C. Exley, O. Korchazhkina).