Cognitive impairment associated with low ferritin responsive to iron supplementation

Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in children. It affects 9% of children ages 1-3 years. Iron is essential for effective mitochondrial electron transport and neurotransmitter synthesis. Iron deficiency has been correlated with impaired psychomotor development, pica, attention deficit disorder, periodic limb movements of sleep, and breath-holding spells. Ferritin is the storage form of iron.

We assessed three children referred for developmental concerns. Extensive testing and neuroimaging were all unremarkable except for low iron stores. Dietary histories revealed excessive milk consumption in two of the children. After dietary adjustments and iron supplementation, iron stores normalized.

This cohort demonstrated a dramatic improvement in cognition once iron stores were repleted, suggesting iron studies should be considered as part of initial investigations of patients with cognitive concerns.