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The Aging of Iron Man
Azhaar Ashraf1, Maryam Clark2, Po-Wah So1
1Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Neuroimaging, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
|March 30, 2018
Summary
Brain iron dysregulation is linked to aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Combining iron chelators with anti-inflammatories may offer new therapies for pathological brain aging.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Brain iron homeostasis is crucial for cognitive function.
- Iron dysregulation is a hallmark of aging and neurodegenerative diseases, correlating with neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.
- Understanding age-related brain iron metabolism is vital for developing therapeutic targets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review age-related alterations in brain iron metabolism.
- To explore the link between iron dyshomeostasis and neuroinflammation.
- To examine the impact of systemic iron overload on the brain.
Main Methods:
- Cellular and molecular biology approaches.
- Genetic analysis.
- Neuroimaging in human and rodent models.
- Literature review of normal aging and neurodegeneration.
Main Results:
- Iron dyshomeostasis is a common feature in aging brains and neurodegenerative conditions.
- Neuroinflammation, protein aggregation, and neurobehavioral deficits are associated with iron dysregulation.
- Systemic iron overload can negatively affect brain iron metabolism.
Conclusions:
- Iron dysregulation plays a significant role in pathological brain aging.
- Synergistic therapy using iron chelators and anti-inflammatories is proposed.
- This combined approach may counteract pathological aging in neurodegenerative diseases.
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