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| Life Extension
Update Exclusive Iron imbalance associated with
Parkinson’s disease
Although having either too little or too much iron can contribute
to the development of Parkinson’s disease, having too much
iron is far worse, according to Florida State University researcher
Cathy Levenson. Dr Levinson is the author of a report entitled,
"The Role of Dietary Iron Restrictions in a Mouse Model of
Parkinson's Disease,” which will appear in a future issue
of the journal Experimental Neurology.
Dr Levenson, who is an associate professor of nutrition, food and
exercise sciences at FSU's College of Human Sciences, stated, "We
define our work here at the cellular level. Our primary research
objective is to better understand how trace metal imbalances, which
are associated with neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases,
affect the molecular mechanisms that regulate gene expression."
Dr Levenson and colleague Mark Mattson of the National Institute
on Aging fed healthy mice and mice at risk of Parkinson’s
disease varying amounts of iron. They found that high levels of
iron were associated with the onset of Parkinson’s-like symptoms
such as tremors in healthy mice, and appeared to accelerate the
disease in mice that had already developed it. Low levels of the
mineral delayed the onset of symptoms and slowed the disease’s
progress.
In healthy mice, reduced iron levels also decreased the neurotransmitter
dopamine, whose diminishment in Parkinson’s disease is responsible
for the disease’s symptoms. Nevertheless, elevated iron levels
remain more dangerous than low levels in their ability to increase
the onset and progression of Parkinson’s disease.
This study shows that both low and high levels of iron are associated
with the genes and neuron suicide that lead to reduced dopamine
production and Parkinson’s disease.
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Parkinson’s
disease
Parkinson's disease (also called paralysis agitans) is a degenerative
central nervous system disorder. Parkinson's disease is generally
a disease of unknown cause, affecting persons over the age of 60
(Glanze 1996). In the United States, about 1% of individuals (1
in 200) over the age of 60 are affected (Clayman 1989). However,
the disease may occur in younger persons, particularly following
inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) or from poisoning by carbon
monoxide, metals, or certain drugs.
Iron overload can intensify Parkinson's disease. Not only do Parkinson's
patients have low levels of natural antioxidants, such as glutathione
and superoxide dismutase, but they may also have high levels of
iron in the substantia nigra area of the brain (Youdim et al. 1991;
Good et al. 1992; Olanow 1993). Iron tends to catalyze free-radical
reactions that destroy dopamine-producing cells (Linert et al. 2000).
Potential sources of iron are from inadvertent or accidental ingestion
of iron supplements, drinking water, iron plumbing pipes, and cookware.
In addition to the brain, target organs are the liver, cardiovascular
system, and kidneys (Roberts 1999).
The symptoms of Parkinson's disease are attributed to a loss of
brain cells in the basal ganglia (Clayman 1989). These cells produce
the neurotransmitter dopamine. There also seem to be abnormalities
in other parts of the brain and in the availability of other neurotransmitters,
such as serotonin and norepinephrine (Adam et al. 1983; Kish et
al. 1984; Stern et al. 1984; Taylor et al. 1986; Ring et al. 1994;
Arahata 1999; Bohnen et al. 1999; Narabayashi 1999).
Supplementation with nutrients has reported benefits for persons
with Parkinson's disease. These supplements include amino acids,
antioxidants, coenzyme Q10, melatonin, folic acid, acetyl-L-carnitine,
octacosanol, phosphatidylserine, NADH, and the European drug Hydergine
(Snider 1984; Yapa 1992; Mizuta et al. 1993; Schulz et al. 1995;
1996; Shults et al. 1997; 1998; 1999; Beal et al. 1998; Golbe et
al. 1998; Sakagami et al. 1998; Seitz et al. 1998; Beal 1999; Jimenez-Jimenez
et al. 2000; Kidd 2000; Nadlinger et al. 2001; Roghani et al 2001;
Ross 2001; Tan et al. 2001; Zisapel 2001; Antolin et al. 2002; Chen
et al. 2002; Duan et al. 2002).
Drugs such as L-dopa alleviate symptoms of Parkinson's disease
but are not believed to slow the underlying disease process. A recent
study found evidence that CoQ10 may help stop the specific brain
cell death that causes Parkinson's (Shults et al. 2002).
http://www.lef.org/protocols/prtcl-088.shtml
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Editor, Life Extension Update
ddye@lifeextension.com
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