Antioxidant-rich diet may reduce risk of iron buildup, cognitive issues with age

ISLAMABAD DEC 19 (ONLINE): Iron is one of the many minerals the body needs to function properly.

The body mainly uses iron to create a protein found in red blood cells called hemoglobin, which is tasked with carrying oxygen from the lungs to other areas of the body. Additionally, iron helps muscles store oxygen, is important for hormone and bone marrow production, and keeps the immune system working correctly.

Iron also plays an important role in brain health. As we age, too much iron can sometimes accumulate in the brain. Past studies have correlated high levels of iron in the brain with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Now, researchers from the University of Kentucky have found that including certain nutrients in a person’s usual diet may help lower the amount of iron buildup in the brain, potentially lowering a person’s risk for cognitive issues.
“Iron is a vital element for brain health, playing a key role in essential cellular functions,” Valentinos Zachariou, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Behavioral Science at the College of Medicine at the University of Kentucky.
“However, for iron to fulfill its role in cellular functions, it must first be released from these protective complexes,” Zachariou continued.

“This unbound form of iron, known as non-heme iron, is carefully regulated by healthy brain cells to balance its functional benefits while minimizing potential harm. With aging, this intricate regulatory system becomes disrupted, leading to the accumulation of unbound or non-heme iron outside of protective complexes. This imbalance has been associated with negative cognitive outcomes, which is why our study focuses on this critical domain.”