%0 Journal Article
%T Excessive early-life dietary exposure: a potential source of elevated brain iron and a risk factor for Parkinson¡¯s disease
%A Beverley-Ann Biggs
%A B¨¢rbara Rita Cardoso
%A David I Finkelstein
%A Dominic J Hare
%A Erika P Raven
%A Ewa A Szymlek-Gay
%A Kay L Double
%J Archive of "NPJ Parkinson's Disease".
%D 2017
%R 10.1038/s41531-016-0004-y
%X Iron accumulates gradually in the ageing brain. In Parkinson¡¯s disease, iron deposition within the substantia nigra is further increased, contributing to a heightened pro-oxidant environment in dopaminergic neurons. We hypothesise that individuals in high-income countries, where cereals and infant formulae have historically been fortified with iron, experience increased early-life iron exposure that predisposes them to age-related iron accumulation in the brain. Combined with genetic factors that limit iron regulatory capacity and/or dopamine metabolism, this may increase the risk of Parkinson¡¯s diseases. We propose to (a) validate a retrospective biomarker of iron exposure in children; (b) translate this biomarker to adults; (c) integrate it with in vivo brain iron in Parkinson¡¯s disease; and (d) longitudinally examine the relationships between early-life iron exposure and metabolism, brain iron deposition and Parkinson¡¯s disease risk. This approach will provide empirical evidence to support therapeutically addressing brain iron deposition in Parkinson¡¯s diseases and produce a potential biomarker of Parkinson¡¯s disease risk in preclinical individuals
%U https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5460187/