Alzheimer’s disease is the leading global cause of dementia. Sadly, this neurodegenerative disease has no known cure and it is in the cards for millions of ageing people. A good effective treatment is not even in sight yet, because scientists don’t fully understand the causes.
However, researchers at the University of Adelaide now have evidence that iron deficiency in the brain is at least an important factor in Alzheimer's disease.
Iron deficiency in the brain can damage cells and lead to irreversible changes in the tissue. Image credit: Rafael Ojea Perez via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0
Scientists stress that genetic mutations have been recognized as important roots for Alzheimer’s disease, especially the early onset versions of it. In fact, mutations in a small number of genes are now regarded as the dominant theory of what causes Alzheimer’s disease. Basically, genetic changes influence how Amyloid beta protein is produced and plaques of it start accumulating in the brain. That kind of a build up is toxic and disturbs brain function in an irreparable way. However, now scientists predict that the PSEN1 gene, which is the main culprit in Alzheimer’s disease, could also be important for supplying iron. And so scientists think that iron deficiency could be a very important factor in Alzheimer’s disease.
Iron is very important for the nutrition of cells. Scientists say that cells have microscopic “stomachs” called lysosomes. As your stomach needs to be acidic for digestion of food, lysosomes also need to be acidic to allow nutrient absorption from the outside. When the PSEN1 gene is compromised, lysosomes struggle to become properly acidic. And so the entire disease unravels from the PSEN1 gene and the iron deficiency that it is causing. Interestingly, scientists used fish models to gather the evidence that iron deficiency plays a key role in Alzheimer’s disease. This could inform and shape future treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, it could be possible that iron deficiency in early Alzheimer’s is going to be a drug target someday.
So the answer is clear then? If you want to preserve your mental capacity and fend off brain ageing, you should improve iron content in your diet or even take supplements? Scientists would not advise that.
Dr Michael Lardelli, one of the authors of the study, explained: “It has long been known that having sufficient iron in your diet is very important for mental function and overall health. But iron is both a blessing and a curse. Having too much iron can damage your body. So, people should not start taking iron supplements unless their doctor recommends they do so.”
Of course, more research is needed. Alzheimer’s is a very complex disease and a simple solution is not going to be available any time soon. However, scientists are edging closer and closer to the real causes and the mechanism of Alzheimer’s and that gives us hope that someday we will be aging healthier.
Source: University of Adelaide