Suspense Crime, Digital Desk : Scientists have found that excess iron in brain cells can reduce the cells’ defenses and make them more susceptible to stress and other forms of cellular damage. They call this phenomenon “chronopheroptosis.”Excess iron destroys the antioxidant proteins that protect brain cells, leaving the cells susceptible and sensitive to external stresses. The findings, published in the journal Cell Death Discovery, suggest iron accumulation in brain cells could be a key target in efforts to predict, prevent and treat neurodegeneration diseases, according to researchers.Neurons more vulnerable to stressResilience has become an important topic of discussion in the context of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegeneration disorders, with the aim of making the brain more resilient to the stresses that contribute to neurodegeneration,” said Pam Maher, research professor at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in the US.When iron gets to a certain level, Maher says the research shows that cells lose flexibility, making neurons more vulnerable to stress that damages them.Iron Accumulation and Neurodegenerative Diseases.The researchers say iron can accumulate in neurons over time, and previous studies have found this. Early in life iron accumulation has little effect on neuron function, but may gradually contribute to neuronal death later in life. The team then looked at neurons to determine if and how this iron accumulation is related to neurodegenerative diseases.In the long term, excess iron creates a state of ferroptotic stress, in which nerve cells stay alive but become vulnerable to oxidative damage. Iron is in leafy greens, starchy grains, lean meats, seafood and more.Iron build-up strains neuronsBut, neurons that were exposed for longer periods of time exhibited increases and decreases in activity, including the accumulation of harmful chemicals, decreases in the production of beneficial chemicals, and increases in lipid peroxidation.When each group was exposed to additional stress, the neurons that were exposed over a shorter period of time were able to withstand the stress, while those exposed over a longer period of time were not able to. "The destiny of these cells is not determined by the amount of iron, but by the duration of their exposure to stress," said Nawab Jan Dar, a study author in Maher's lab.The researchers suggest that interventions could be developed to address brain degeneration, i.e. when iron accumulation places stress on neurons. This might counterbalance iron deficiencies and keep neurons strong long term.
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