Role of iron in brain development, aging, and neurodegenerative diseases

It is now understood that iron crosses the blood-brain barrier via a complex metabolic regulatory network and participates in diverse critical biological processes within the central nervous system, including oxygen transport, energy metabolism, and the synthesis and catabolism of myelin and neurotransmitters. During brain development, iron is distributed throughout the brain, playing a pivotal role in key processes such as neuronal development, myelination, and neurotransmitter synthesis. In physiological aging, iron can selectively accumulate in specific brain regions, impacting cognitive function and leading to intracellular redox imbalance, mitochondrial dysfunction, and lipid peroxidation, thereby accelerating aging and associated pathologies. Furthermore, brain iron accumulation may be a primary contributor to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Comprehending the role of iron in brain development, aging, and neurodegenerative diseases, utilizing iron-sensitive Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technology for timely detection or prediction of abnormal neurological states, and implementing appropriate interventions may be instrumental in preserving normal central nervous system function.