Iron and neurodegeneration <b>[Abstract in English]</b>

Abstract

Aims: Increasing evidence has indicated that iron plays an important role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders. The aim of this article is to review aspects related to iron absortion, transport and storage in the human body. Additionally, the role of iron in oxidative stress in the central nervous system, and its implications to prevalent neurodegenerative disorders, with special reference to Alzheimer’s dementia and Parkinson’s disease are discussed. Data source: A systematic review of all published English literature was conducted on Medline, Ovid, and Scopus, from January 2000 through September 2007. Textbooks were used as well. Studies focusing mainly on pharmacological therapies and metal-related genetic mutations were not included. Summary of the findings: This article review the iron metabolism like absorption, transport and storage, and its influence in oxidative stress and in the most important neurodegenerative disorders, Alzheimer’s dementia and Parkinson disease. Conclusions: The reviewed literature strongly suggests that iron-induced oxidative stress is a central pathway in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders. These data warrant further investigation in order to clarify whether disruption in iron homeostasis plays a causative role or is a consequence of the neurodegenerative process. KEYWORDS: IRON/metabolism; NERVE DEGENERATION; OXIDATIVE STRESS; ALZHEIMER DISEASE; PARKINSON DISEASE.