Recent research suggests a connection between the presence of iron in the brain and Alzheimer’s disease.
In a new study, an imaging probe has demonstrated for the first time that there is an increase in iron redox in the same regions of the brain where amyloid-beta plaques associated with Alzheimer’s occur.
This indicates that the iron in these regions becomes more reactive when exposed to oxygen.
The imaging probe could provide further insights into the causes of Alzheimer’s and aid in the development of new treatments.
Study Details
The study, conducted by a team from The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, used DNA-based fluorescent sensors capable of detecting two different forms of iron (Fe2+ and Fe3+).
This is the first imaging technique that can simultaneously detect both forms of iron in cells and tissue, while also indicating their quantity and spatial distribution.
This imaging technique was applied to cell cultures and brain slices from mice genetically modified to mimic Alzheimer’s.
Significance of Findings
These new findings could provide critical insights into the role of iron in Alzheimer’s disease.
Previous research discovered a process called ferroptosis, which depends on elevated iron levels, leads to cell death, and plays a crucial role in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
One key question is whether iron redox is directly involved in cell death in Alzheimer’s or is simply a byproduct. The researchers plan to investigate this question further.
If iron and its redox changes are indeed implicated in cell death in Alzheimer’s, this could pave the way for new drug development strategies aimed at modifying the ratio of Fe3+ to Fe2+ to protect brain cells.
The new imaging probe could be used to assess the effectiveness of such drug candidates in altering this ratio.
Next Steps
The research team plans to further investigate the role of iron redox in Alzheimer’s disease.
They aim to determine if increased iron redox is involved in the formation of amyloid-beta plaques and whether it directly contributes to cell death.
In the future, this imaging probe could be used to monitor the effectiveness of potential drugs aimed at altering iron levels in the brain, thereby providing a possible new avenue for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
If you care about Alzheimer’s disease, please read studies about daytime napping strongly linked to Alzheimer’s disease, and how to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about how Alzheimer’s disease is treated, and results showing alternative drug strategies against Alzheimer’s disease.
Copyright © 2023 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
