Posted by This study evaluated longitudinal brain iron accumulation in older adults, its association with cognition, and the role of specific nutrients in mitigating iron accumulation. MRI-based, quantitative susceptibility mapping estimates of brain iron concentration were acquired from seventy-two healthy older adults (47 women, ages 60–86) at a baseline timepoint (TP1) and a follow-up timepoint (TP2) 2.5–3.0 years later. Dietary intake was evaluated at baseline using a validated questionnaire. Cognitive performance was assessed at TP2 using the uniform data set (Version 3) neuropsychological tests of episodic memory (MEM) and executive function (EF). Voxel-wise, linear mixed-effects models, adjusted for longitudinal gray matter volume alterations, age, and several non-dietary lifestyle factors revealed brain iron accumulation in multiple subcortical and cortical brain regions, which was negatively associated with both MEM and EF performance at T2. However, consumption of specific dietary nutrients at TP1 was associated with reduced brain iron accumulation.
In addition to understanding the spatial distribution of brain iron accumulation in older adults, it is important to identify factors that may mitigate age-related brain iron accumulation. To date, there are no established strategies to effectively mitigate brain iron accumulation in normal aging. This study aims to uncover longitudinal patterns of brain iron accumulation and its association on cognitive functions in a cohort of healthy older adults. Importantly, this study suggests that brain iron accumulation in aging may not be an inevitable process but one that may be influenced by dietary choices. Specifically, incorporating vitamins, antioxidants, iron-chelating nutrients, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (most of them have improved bioavailability when delivered in cyclodextrin-containing formulations as dietary supplements) into the daily diet may mitigate brain iron accumulation. These results provide motivation for randomized clinical trials to test the impact of similar nutritional intake on brain iron accumulation and cognition. For example, studying the effects of healthy diets such as the Mediterranean or DASH diets, which are rich in the nutrients examined here, on brain iron accumulation and cognition would be highly beneficial.
Zachariou V, Pappas C, Bauer CE, Seago ER, Gold BT. Exploring the links among brain iron accumulation, cognitive performance, and dietary intake in older adults: A longitudinal MRI study. Neurobiol Aging. 2025;145:1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2024.10.006