Is Iron Fuel For Alzheimer's?

HealthWatch: Is Iron Fuel For Alzheimer's? Study: Patients With Disease Have High Levels In Brain Image

Dr. David Marks, M.D. Reporting

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(CBS) NEW YORK Age and family history are known risk factors for Alzheimer's Disease, but some researchers think a common chemical may also be linked to the disease: iron.

"Now we can measure it very specifically with certain MRI techniques," said Dr. George Bartzokis of the UCLA Memory Disorders Clinic.

His studies show Alzheimer's patients have higher levels of iron in their brains than patients without the disease. He thinks too much iron is a risk factor for Alzheimer's, just as too much cholesterol is a risk factor for heart disease.

"In this area where it's dark blue there is much higher levels of iron," he said.

And our bodies have no natural way of getting rid of iron. So what does too much of it do to the brain?

Our bodies have no natural way of getting rid of iron. So as it builds up, it basically rusts, damaging brain tissue. Our bodies all need a certain amount of iron, so how do we get too much of it? Dr. Bartzokis says it comes from our diet.

"By far the biggest is consumption of red meat," he said.

Something men eat more of than women and that, Dr. Bartzokis said, maybe why men may have more iron in the brain compared to women.

Beth Israel Medical Center's Dr. Valery Portnoi agrees that iron in the brain is troubling. He said it doesn't cause Alzheimer's, but it may make it worse.

"I don't think it's causing but it may aggravate Alzheimer's like it aggravates other conditions," Dr. Portnoi said.

He also said unnecessary iron supplements are more of a concern than red meat, especially in the elderly.

"Iron should not be prescribed without clear investigation -- clear need," he said.