Brain Iron Homeostasis and Mental Disorders

Iron plays an essential role in various physiological processes. A disruption in iron homeostasis can lead to severe consequences, including impaired neurodevelopment, neurodegenerative disorders, stroke, and cancer. Interestingly, the link between mental health disorders and iron homeostasis has no...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Qiong Wu, Qiuyang Ren, Jingsi Meng, Wei-Juan Gao, Yan-Zhong Chang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-11-01
Series:Antioxidants
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/12/11/1997
Description
Summary:Iron plays an essential role in various physiological processes. A disruption in iron homeostasis can lead to severe consequences, including impaired neurodevelopment, neurodegenerative disorders, stroke, and cancer. Interestingly, the link between mental health disorders and iron homeostasis has not received significant attention. Therefore, our understanding of iron metabolism in the context of psychological diseases is incomplete. In this review, we aim to discuss the pathologies and potential mechanisms that relate to iron homeostasis in associated mental disorders. We propose the hypothesis that maintaining brain iron homeostasis can support neuronal physiological functions by impacting key enzymatic activities during neurotransmission, redox balance, and myelination. In conclusion, our review highlights the importance of investigating the relationship between trace element nutrition and the pathological process of mental disorders, focusing on iron. This nutritional perspective can offer valuable insights for the clinical treatment of mental disorders.
ISSN:2076-3921