Iron build-up in Alzheimer’s brain

Researchers in the US have detected raised iron levels during Alzheimer’s in the part of the brain responsible for the formation of memory. The research, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, highlights the need for more research into the role of iron in the disease.

Iron is found in foods such as red meat, nuts, beans and liver and has many important roles in the body. Research has also shown that iron levels in the brain rise as we get older, prompting researchers to understand more about whether it could play a role in the development of diseases like Alzheimer’s.

To look at this in more detail, researchers at the University of California in Los Angeles used MRI scans to study iron accumulation in the brain in people with Alzheimer’s. They took MRI scans of 31 people with Alzheimer’s and compared them to brain scans from 68 people without the disease.

The team reports that those volunteers with Alzheimer’s disease had higher levels of iron in the hippocampus. This is an area of the brain involved in memory formation and known to be particularly vulnerable to damage in Alzheimer’s. They found that higher levels of iron in the brain correlated with greater signs of damage to the hippocampus on brain scans.

Dr Marie Janson, of Alzheimer’s Research UK, the UK’s leading dementia research charity, said:
“This study suggests that during Alzheimer’s, iron could accumulate in an area of the brain that is critical to memory, but it is not clear whether this build-up might be a cause or consequence of the disease. The study’s findings prompt further questions around why iron is accumulating and the role it might play.

“Research is underway to look at whether shifts in the balance of iron in the brain as we age could interfere with biological processes involved in Alzheimer’s. However, iron is an essential part of our diet with many important roles in the body. Too little iron can be harmful to your health and so it is important to make sure you are getting enough through your diet. If you are worried about your dietary intake of vitamins and minerals, you should talk to your GP for advice.”

(Source: Alzheimer’s Research UK : Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease)