Iron accumulation in the brain is emerging as a key player in neurodegeneration that may lead to Alzheimer’s disease. STORY AT-A-GLANCE An imbalance of iron (Fe) in the body can lead to ferroptosis, a programmed cell death pathway known to play a role in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s patients typically have elevated iron levels in the brain.
In areas of the brain where amyloid beta plaques tend to accumulate, an increase in iron redox was revealed, suggesting that iron located in these areas became “more reactive in the presence of oxygen.”
Iron accumulations in the brain tend to concentrate in areas most affected by Alzheimer’s, namely the frontal cortex and hippocampus.
The APOE4 gene, which is considered to be the strongest risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, is also known to elevate iron levels in the brain. By 2050, an estimated 13 million Americans will have Alzheimer’s disease.1 But despite its prevalence, there’s no known cure, and its causes are hotly debated. While it’s often said that an accumulation of amyloid beta plaques underlies Alzheimer’s, there appears to be more to the story….