Iron Deposition in the Aging Brain Correlates with Glymphatic System Function
Evidence to date suggests that disruption of the pathways by which fluid clears from the brain is important in the development of neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and many others. These conditions are associated with raised amounts of specific forms of metabolic waste in the brain, including aggregates of amyloid-β, that are harmful to cell function. In a young brain, drainage of cerebrospinal fluid from the brain carries away some fraction of these wastes. As drainage pathways are disrupted with age, however, the balance between processes of creation and removal is altered in favor of an ever-increasing presence of amyloid-β and other metabolic byproducts in brain tissue.
One drainage pathway for cerebrospinal fluid is the cribriform plate, behind the nose. This structure ossifies with age, reducing fluid flow. When permeable, the cribriform plate route allows drainage from the olfactory bulb region of the brain, and the company Leucadia Therapeutics is founded on the thesis that loss of cribriform plate drainage is exactly why Alzheimer's pathology, and the buildup of amyloid-β, first appears in the olfactory bulb. Studies conducted by Leucadia staff have recreated this process in ferrets, and the company plans to develop a therapy based on implanting a small device into the cribriform plate in order to restore drainage of cerebrospinal fluid.
Another interesting discovery of recent years, and the subject of today's open access paper, is the existence of the glymphatic system. This is a more general drainage route for cerebrospinal fluid. The glymphatic system, like the cardiovascular system and lymphatic system, also declines in function with age. This decline may well contribute to rising levels of metabolic waste throughout the brain. The evidence for this proposition is still in the early stages of assembly, but is so far fairly convincing.
Dysfunction of the Glymphatic System Might Be Related to Iron Deposition in the Normal Aging Brain
Iron is an electron facilitator and is involved in many brain functions, including oxygen transport, myelin production, electron transfer, and neurotransmitter synthesis. Both imaging and postmortem analyses have shown that the concentration of iron in the brain is not uniform. Previous studies have demonstrated that iron accumulates in the normal aging brain, which might damage cognitive function. However, the exact mechanism of iron deposition in the aging brain remains unclear.
Recent work has led to the discovery of the "glymphatic system," which is a coined phrase that combines "gl" for glia cell with "lymphatic system". Within the glymphatic system, cerebrospinal fluid enters the brain via peri-arterial spaces, passes into the interstitium via astrocytic aquaporin-4, and then drives the peri-venous drainage of interstitial fluid and its solute. Evidence suggests that the glymphatic system is an important fluid clearance system in the brain. Numerous neurological disorders have been found to be closely related to the dysfunction of the glymphatic system, including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
Evidence also revealed that iron deposition was one of the most important underlying mechanisms in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Some scholars also believe that the glymphatic system may be the major contributory factor to the deposition and clearance of iron in brain tissue, but evidence is still lacking. In this study, we recruited 213 healthy participants. We evaluated the function of the glymphatic system using the index for diffusivity along the perivascular space (ALPS-index), assessed iron deposition on quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM), and analyzed their relationship. The main finding of the current study is that the regional brain iron deposition was related to the function of the glymphatic system.
Previously, the glymphatic system has been speculated to be responsible for the clearance and homeostasis of waste in the brain. Our results support that in a healthy aging brain, the glymphatic system might also be involved in the clearance of iron, suggesting that iron metabolism shared the same pathway as other waste metabolisms. Moreover, a study has demonstrated that injury of the microvasculature and capillary-level microhemorrhages coincided with amyloid beta (Aβ) deposits in senile plaques. Iron deposition plays an important role in cerebral small vessel diseases. Therefore, we inferred that dysfunction of the glymphatic system might lead to the damage of microvasculature via deposition of Aβ, then leading to iron deposition.
Perhaps excess iron harms the glymphatic system, not the other way around.
These researchers overloaded mice with iron and found it to harm the glymphatic system.
"Our results demonstrate that excess iron aggravates malfunction of the glymphatic system"
"we suggest that excess iron intake has to be considered as an additional risk factor for cognitive impairment in patients with depression. Meanwhile, iron chelation may be a potential therapeutic strategy for MDD patients with high serum iron."
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs12264-020-00539-x
P.D. Mangan had a series of postings including some papers that indicated excess iron was linked to heart attacks as well as cancer. The latter makes sense as does the now-commonly-known glucose - cancer link. Excess iron in the glymphatic system as Lee noted above is also worth investigation.
In any event, donating blood regularly (every 8 weeks) would be a good idea for men over 30. Donating red blood cells would be even better for control of iron / ferritin, however that can only be done every 4 months. Perhaps plasma donation as well, since that can be done more often, in view of the ongoing parabiosis research.
Thanks, Reason, for this blog and all that you do.
Many in alternative, know that toxins cause Alzheimers. Why is in text not mentioned exploding liver diseases??? Glymphatic system, will not only unload garbage in Oil factories.
Loss of smell test, right nostril, ( Peanut butter smell test) is early symptom of Alzheimer disease coming. Germans know also that Mercury is accumulated in brains of dead people of Alzheimer. Potent neuro toxin. Glymphatic system go to lymphatic sistem then to liver So, liver and lymph have nothing to do with Glymphatic system in brain? And the deposited toxins and blockades in liver and lymph? Good wish. If you slow or close drainage exits, all circulations are affected . You don't need to be rocket engineer. As if corrosive metals, aren't affecting liver cells and ducts, together with chemical toxins, producing LDL.
I'm coming to this from reading about MS, iron, veins, and CCSVI, which is Chronic Cerebral Stenotic Venous Insufficiency. People who have CCSVI can often be helped by venoplasty (venous angioplasty). But unfortunately this procedure has been stopped in the USA.