Excess iron affects brain
Sydney researchers recently discovered an abnormal accumulation of iron in the brain may contribute to Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Treating mice with a drug that helps remove excess iron from the brain reportedly reverses some of the effects of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
Sydney researchers recently discovered an abnormal accumulation of iron in the brain may contribute to Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.
Treating mice with a drug that helps remove excess iron from the brain reportedly reverses some of the effects of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
The protein, called tau, which is at the centre of the diseases, works to transport another protein, amyloid precursor protein to the surface of the cells, where it escorts excess iron from the premises.
If there are abnormalities in the function of tau, this process can break down, resulting in a build-up of iron in the brain – which often leads to neurodegeneration.
The researchers concluded the tau knockout mice behaved normally for about the first six months, and then experienced neurodegeneration resulting in impaired physical ability by 12 months.
The study, published online this week at the journal Nature Medicine, also involved treating some of the tau knockout mice with a drug, clioquinol, which reportedly reduces iron levels in areas of the brain and “entirely prevented” the onset of neurodegeneration.
According to scientists, the discovery will “shed light” on a potential mechanism responsible for causing Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as developing a new drug treatment to rid the brain of excess iron.
