WASHINGTON — Problems with the brain’s iron metabolism and iron buildup are linked to aging and Alzheimer’s disease. However, the exact reasons for this remain unclear. We know that both iron levels and inflammation control the production of hepcidin, the main protein that regulates iron in the body.

A recent experimental study shows how regular physical exercise affects iron use in both the brain and muscles. These findings also help us better understand the benefits of exercise for people with Alzheimer’s disease.

The International Journal of Molecular Sciences published the study in a special issue titled “Redox-Active Metals in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Therapeutic Implications.”

How Exercise Influences Brain and Muscle Health

The cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6), which helps manage inflammation and communication between the brain and muscles, plays a key role. It is involved in starting the production of hepcidin in the brain. Regular physical activity is known to benefit the body’s overall iron use and reduce inflammation. Still, we didn’t fully understand its effect on iron balance within the brain, especially concerning Alzheimer’s.

To explore this, researchers used two types of mice: standard wild-type mice and 5xFAD transgenic mice, which are used to model Alzheimer’s disease. During the six-month experiment, half of the mice in each group had constant access to a running wheel. Afterward, the team analyzed the levels of iron and iron-related proteins in the brain and skeletal muscle. They also looked into how iron might be involved in the communication between the brain and the body during regular exercise.

Key Findings on Iron Modulation

The study shows that consistent physical exercise changes how the body stores and moves iron in both the brain and skeletal muscle. Importantly, this is the first study to report that regular exercise reduces hepcidin levels in the cortex of the brain. The results point to IL-6 as a major factor in how exercise adjusts iron levels in the brain.

These findings help explain why regular physical activity is good for those with Alzheimer’s disease. They may also offer new ideas for preventing the disease or developing more effective treatments.

The authors of the study were assisted in tissue collection by Taina Vihavainen and Dzhessie Rait. The cryosectioning of mice brains was possible with help from Mirka Tikkanen. Galieva Tatjana and Navjot Thind helped with protein isolation from skeleton muscles, and Liisi Soppela isolated RNA from cortical samples.

The authors of the study in order of the appearance of their names were: Belaya I, Kucháriková N, Górová V, Kysenius K, Hare D.J., Crouch P.J., Malm T., Atalay M., White A.R., Liddell J.R., and Kanninen K.M.

(With inputs from ANI)

Edited by Amrita Das and Krishna Kakani