Premium
Nanoscale biogenic iron oxides and neurodegenerative disease
Author(s) -
Dobson Jon
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(01)02386-9
Subject(s) - maghemite , magnetite , iron homeostasis , neurodegeneration , senile plaques , disease , nanoscopic scale , neuroscience , chemistry , biology , pathology , medicine , alzheimer's disease , nanotechnology , biochemistry , materials science , metabolism , paleontology
One of the characteristics of many neurodegenerative diseases is the disruption of normal iron homeostasis in the brain. Recent experimental work indicates that nanoscale magnetic biominerals (primarily magnetite and maghemite) may be associated with senile plaques and tau filaments found in brain tissue affected by these diseases. These findings have important implications for our understanding of the role of iron in neurodegenerative disease as well as profound implications for their causes. In addition, the presence of biogenic magnetite in affected tissue should also provide improved mechanisms for early detection through the modification of MRI pulse sequences.