Iron Deposition in Parkinson’s Disease: A Mini-Review

Abstract

Iron deposition is crucial pathological changes observed in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Recently, scientists have actively explored therapeutic approaches targeting iron deposition in PD. However, several clinical studies have failed to yield consistent results. In this review, we provide an overview of iron deposition in PD, from both basic research and clinical perspectives. PD patients exhibit abnormalities in various iron metabolism-related proteins, leading to disruptions in iron distribution, transport, storage, and circulation, ultimately resulting in iron deposition. Excess iron can induce oxidative stress and iron-related cell death, and exacerbate mitochondrial dysfunction, contributing to the progression of PD pathology. Magnetic resonance imaging studies have indicated that the characteristics of iron deposition in the brains of PD patients vary. Iron deposition correlates with the clinical symptoms of PD, and patients with different disease courses and clinical presentations display distinct patterns of iron deposition. These iron deposition patterns may contribute to PD diagnosis. Iron deposition is a promising target for PD treatment. However, further research is required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and their impacts on PD. Graphical Abstract: Iron deposition in the Substantia nigra (SN) is a crucial pathological alteration in Parkinson's disease (PD). This article provides a review of the mechanisms and effects of iron deposition, as well as research on brain iron deposition in PD patients using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These findings elucidate the role of iron deposition in PD. (Figure presented.)