Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
9.2
4.8
Journals
Nutrients
Special Issues
Iron and Brain and Cognitive Function Across the Lifespan
nutrients-logo
Submit to Nutrients Review for Nutrients Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Iron and Brain and Cognitive Function Across the Lifespan

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Clinical Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 April 2025) | Viewed by 3915

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Michael Weger

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Psychology and Neurobiology, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
Interests: iron; perception; attention; cognition; reproductive women; menopausal transition; cognitive impairment ("chemo brain")

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The dependency of proper brain health and function on tightly regulated iron homeostasis has been well established in both human and animal studies. Iron plays a significant role in neurotransmitter synthesis and regulation, myelination, neurogenesis and synaptogenesis, oxygen transport and mitochondrial respiration, and (across the lifespan) oxidative stress. Both human and animal studies have demonstrated the effects of iron level variations on brain structure and function and related measures of perception, attention (including aspects of executive function) and memory, ranging from the effects of deficiency from gestation through midlife to the effects of iron accumulation from early to late adulthood. Moreover, the development and refinement of methods for non-invasive assessment of brain iron and changes in brain iron in humans have opened the possibilities for asking increasingly refined mechanistic questions and connecting human and animal literatures.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to document the current state of the experimental, pre-clinical, clinical and interventional literatures on the relationships between iron and brain and cognitive function across the lifespan. Submissions are invited that describe new experimental and/or interventional work in either humans or animal models; theoretical work, including mathematical and computational modeling; and reviews, including systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Submissions should relate biological measures of systemic and/or brain iron to measures of the brain structure and/or function and measures of associated perceptual and/or cognitive function. Methodologies reflecting the range of approaches in neuroscience and nutritional science are encouraged, including, but not limited to, genetics, pharmacology, electrophysiology, psychophysiology, eye tracking, EEG, MRI, PET, non-invasive brain stimulation, etc.

Please contact the Guest Editor with any questions. The submission deadline for abstracts is 1 November 2024.

Prof. Dr. Michael Weger
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • iron
  • iron deficiency
  • iron homeostasis
  • central nervous system
  • perception
  • attention
  • memory
  • cognition
  • infants
  • adolescents
  • reproductive age women
  • menopausal transition
  • cognitive impairment
  • aging
  • oxidative stress
  • neurodegenerative disease

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

11 pages, 726 KiB  
Article
Women with Symptoms Suggestive of ADHD Are More Likely to Report Symptoms of Iron Deficiency and Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
by Beth MacLean, Paige Buissink, Vernon Louw, Wai Chen and Toby Richards
Nutrients 2025, 17(5), 785; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17050785 - 24 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1038
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Iron deficiency has been suggested as a potential mechanism for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) development due to involvement in neurotransmitter synthesis and transporter expression. As iron deficiency is particularly common in women of reproductive age, often due to heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB), [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Iron deficiency has been suggested as a potential mechanism for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) development due to involvement in neurotransmitter synthesis and transporter expression. As iron deficiency is particularly common in women of reproductive age, often due to heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB), we aimed to explore the relationship between iron deficiency, HMB and ADHD in women. Methods: We screened women (18–49 years) at university and local sporting events in Western Australia. To screen for ADHD, section A of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale-V1.1 (ASRS-V1.1) and the Adult Concentration Inventory were used to assess cognitive disengagement syndrome (CDS) symptoms. Risk factors for iron deficiency, such as HMB, commonly reported symptoms and a fingerpick haemoglobin concentration (Hb) (Hemocue Hb801) were recorded. Results: Of the 405 completed questionnaires, the mean age was 24.8 ± 10.1 years, the mean Hb was 136.8 ± 12.4 g/L and 6.4% of women were anaemic. Symptoms suggestive of ADHD were reported by 174/405 (43%) women, and 128/405 (32%) women reported HMB. There was a greater prevalence of HMB reported in those experiencing symptoms suggestive of ADHD (39% vs. 26%, p = 0.01). Symptoms of fatigue, dizziness, brain fog, anxiety, heart palpitations, headaches, restless legs and depression were more common in patients with symptoms suggestive of ADHD (p ≤ 0.01) and HMB (p < 0.05). Anaemia status did not influence ADHD status (p = 0.87) nor CDS scores (15.7 ± 7.0 vs. 13.8 ± 6.1, p = 0.17). Conclusions: There is an apparent relationship between those with symptoms reported in ADHD, HMB and iron deficiency. Further exploration is required to determine whether there is a causative relationship. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Iron and Brain and Cognitive Function Across the Lifespan)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 331 KiB  
Article
Cognitive Performance in Relation to Systemic and Brain Iron at Perimenopause
by Amy L. Barnett, Michael J. Wenger, Pamela Miles, Dee Wu, Zitha Redempta Isingizwe, Doris M. Benbrook and Han Yuan
Nutrients 2025, 17(5), 745; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17050745 - 20 Feb 2025
Viewed by 800
Abstract
Background: The literature on the relationships among blood iron levels, cognitive performance, and brain iron levels specific to women at the menopausal transition is ambiguous at best. The need to better understand these potential relationships in women for whom monthly blood loss (and [...] Read more.
Background: The literature on the relationships among blood iron levels, cognitive performance, and brain iron levels specific to women at the menopausal transition is ambiguous at best. The need to better understand these potential relationships in women for whom monthly blood loss (and thus iron loss) is ceasing is highlighted by iron’s accumulation in brain tissue over time, thought to be a factor in the development of neurodegenerative disease. Methods: Non-anemic women who were either low in iron or had normal iron levels for their age and race/ethnicity provided blood samples, underwent MRI scans to estimate brain iron levels, and performed a set of cognitive tasks with concurrent EEG. Results: Cognitive performance and brain dynamics were positively related to iron levels, including measures associated with oxygen transport. There were no relationships between any of the blood measures of iron and brain iron. Conclusions: Higher iron status was associated with better cognitive performance in a sample of women who were neither iron deficient nor anemic, without there being any indication that higher levels of systemic iron were related to higher levels of brain iron. Consequently, addressing low iron levels at the menopausal transition may be a candidate approach for alleviating the “brain fog” commonly experienced at menopause. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Iron and Brain and Cognitive Function Across the Lifespan)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Research

9 pages, 1174 KiB  
Review
A Review of the Association Between Dietary Intake and Brain Iron Levels in Older Adults: Preliminary Findings and Future Directions
by Valentinos Zachariou, Christopher E. Bauer, Colleen Pappas and Brian T. Gold
Nutrients 2024, 16(23), 4193; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16234193 - 4 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1166
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Non-heme iron is essential for critical neuronal functions such as ATP generation, synaptogenesis, neurotransmitter synthesis, and myelin formation. However, as non-heme iron accumulates with age, excessive levels can contribute to oxidative stress, potentially disrupting neuronal integrity and contributing to cognitive decline. Despite [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Non-heme iron is essential for critical neuronal functions such as ATP generation, synaptogenesis, neurotransmitter synthesis, and myelin formation. However, as non-heme iron accumulates with age, excessive levels can contribute to oxidative stress, potentially disrupting neuronal integrity and contributing to cognitive decline. Despite growing evidence linking high brain iron with poorer cognitive performance, there are currently no proven methods to reduce brain iron accumulation in aging or to protect cognitive function from iron’s negative effects. Recent studies suggest that nutrition may influence brain iron levels, though the evidence remains limited and mixed. Methods: In this review, we explore recent findings, including our own cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, to evaluate the potential effectiveness of healthy diets and specific nutrients in mitigating brain iron accumulation during aging. We also briefly assess the roles of age and gender as factors in the relationship between dietary factors and brain iron load. Results: The limited findings in the literature indicate that dietary choices may impact brain iron levels. In particular, nutrients such as vitamins, antioxidants, iron-chelators, and polyunsaturated fatty acids may slow brain iron accumulation in older adults. Conclusions: Our review highlights the multiple gaps in current knowledge and underscores a critical need for additional research on this important topic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Iron and Brain and Cognitive Function Across the Lifespan)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop