ALJAZEERA: …Scientists concluded that the deadly combination of these proteins along with high levels of iron created a toxic environment in the brain that led to Alzheimer’s disease. “The accumulation of amyloid is like gasoline, while excess iron is the flame,” Bartzokis said. “An excess of iron is destructive because it is a pro-oxidant metal, meaning it converts free radicals into highly reactive ones.”
The reason our brains accumulate iron as we age has to do with myelin, an insulating layer that forms around nerves in the brain. “Myelin requires a lot of iron, and as we get older, more and more iron gets deposited, which promotes free radical damage,” Bartzokis said. “Once we reach old age, we have an awful lot of it floating around and the same process that kept your mind functioning now begins to undermine you. Now the environment in your brain is toxic.”
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and is characterized by the loss of memory and other cognitive abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life, according to The Alzheimer’s Association…. (more)
