AI Article Synopsis
- - The study investigates the relationship between serum ferritin (SF) levels, which indicate iron stores, and cognitive functions such as executive and language skills using data from three different cohorts, totaling 2,176 participants averaged at 52 years old.
- - Results show that, in individuals aged 65 and older, higher SF levels correlate with better scores in cognitive tests, particularly in tasks measuring executive function and language skills, with these associations being significant only in men.
- - Additionally, in men, higher SF levels were linked to lower brain iron content, as measured by R2* MRI, suggesting that optimal iron levels could play a role in cognitive health.
Article Abstract
Objectives: Iron is important for neurogenesis, synaptic development, and neurotransmitter synthesis. Serum ferritin (SF) is a reliable marker for assessing iron stores. Therefore, we evaluated the cognitive function associated with SF levels. We also assessed brain iron content using R2* Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and its association with SF levels.
Design: Data from three cross-sectional observational studies were used. Aging Imageomics (n = 1030) was conducted on aged subjects. Health Imageomics (n = 971) and IR0NMET (n = 175) were conducted in middle-aged subjects.
Setting And Participants: Participants were enrolled at Dr. Josep Trueta University Hospital facilities. The three cohorts included a total of 2176 subjects (mean age, 52 years; 48% men).
Measurements: SF levels were measured by standard laboratory methods. Total Digits Span (TDS), and Phonemic Verbal Fluency (PVF) were used to assess executive function. Language function was assessed by semantic verbal fluency (SVF), attention by the Symbol Digit Modalities Test, and memory by the Memory Binding Tests - Total Free Recall and Total Delayed Free Recall. MRI was used to assess the iron content of the brain by R2*.
Results: In subjects aged 65 years or older, SF levels were associated with increased TDS (β = 0.003, p = 0.02), PVF (β = 0.004, p = 0.01), and SVF (β = 0.004, p = 0.002) scores. After stratification by sex, these findings were significant only in men, where SF was associated with increased TDS (β = 0.003, p = 0.01), PVF (β = 0.004, p = 0.03), and SVF (β = 0.004, p = 0.009) scores. In middle-aged subjects, SF was also associated with increased SVF scores (β = 0.005, p = 0.011). Lastly, in men, SF levels were negatively associated with R2*, a surrogate marker of brain iron content, in both the left frontal inferior opercular area (r = -0.41, p = 0.005) and the right frontal inferior opercular area (r = -0.44, p = 0.002).
Conclusions: SF is significantly and positively associated with cognition. In older people with low SF levels, iron supplementation may be a promising therapy to improve cognition.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jnha.2024.100190 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!