TITLE:
Commentary:Is Alzheimer's disease iron overload of the brain? (the full
text
paper is unavailable)
JOURNAL:
Alzheimer's Research
VOLUME:
03
ISSUE:
01
PAGES:
69-72
AUTHOR:
Paul S. Hodgkins, John A Blair
ADDRESS:
Present address: Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, PO Box 21247, ,
Baltimore, 21228, USA. Pharmaceutical
and Biological Sciences Department, Aston University, Aston Triangle,, Birmingham, B4 7ET, UK
ABSTRACT:
Correspondence to:John Blair,Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences Department, Aston University, Aston
Triangle,Birmingham,B4 7ET,UKIron is an essential element for humans, however
dysregulation of iron metabolism can lead to several clinically recognised
diseases, including severe neurological disorders. Peripheral measurements of
iron, ferritin, and transferrin saturation in Alzheimer's disease and Down
syndrome patients clearly match the biochemical profile of patients with the
iron overload disorder haemochromatosis, and identifies a dysfunction in iron
metabolism. Brain iron concentrations are raised in Alzheimer's disease and its
distribution parallels affected brain areas. The chronic build up of iron in
the brain may be causally related to the reported neurotoxicity of this element
and ultimately result in the neuropathology associated with Alzheimer's
disease. Potential therapies which
involve
iron chelation may provide an effective treatment in such cases.
KEYWORDS:
Alzheimer's disease Brain Iron Model Oxidation Transferrin