Cognitive Performance in Relation to Systemic and Brain Iron at Perimenopause

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Iron Metabolism
• Cognitive Function

Background:

• Existing research on iron, cognition, and brain iron in menopausal women is unclear.
• Menopause involves cessation of monthly blood loss, impacting iron levels.
• Iron accumulation in the brain over time is linked to neurodegenerative diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between blood iron, brain iron, and cognitive performance in women during menopause.
• To understand how iron status affects cognitive function and brain dynamics as monthly iron loss ends.

Main Methods:

• Non-anemic women with varying iron levels provided blood samples.
• Brain iron levels were estimated using MRI scans.
• Cognitive tasks and electroencephalography (EEG) were performed concurrently.

Main Results:

• Cognitive performance and brain dynamics positively correlated with iron status, including oxygen transport measures.
• No correlation was found between blood iron measures and brain iron levels.
• Higher iron status was linked to better cognitive performance in non-anemic women.

Conclusions:

• Elevated iron status, not necessarily blood iron levels, is associated with enhanced cognitive function in menopausal women.
• There is no evidence that higher systemic iron leads to higher brain iron.
• Targeting low iron levels during menopause may help reduce "brain fog".