Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative brain disorder and the most common cause of dementia. New treatments for AD are required due to its increasing prevalence in aging populations. The present study evaluated the effects of the active components of Epimedium, Astragalus and Radix Puerariae on learning and memory impairment, β-amyloid (Aβ) reduction and brain iron load in an APPswe/PS...

Heme and iron metabolism are of considerable interest and importance in normal brain function as well as in neurodegeneration and neuropathologically following traumatic injury and hemorrhagic stroke. After a cerebral hemorrhage, large numbers of hemoglobin-containing red blood cells are released into the brain's parenchyma and/or subarachnoid space. After hemolysis and the subsequent release o...

Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation (NBIA) is a rare type of neuroaxonal dystrophy that can be familial or sporadic, characterized by progressive extrapyramidal degeneration. We report a case of 23 year old male who presented with cervical dystonia, dysarthria and MRI brain suggestive of characteristic "eye-of-the-tiger" appearance in the globus pallidus.

Pantothenate kinase 2 deficiency (previously known as Hallervorden-Spatz disease) is an unusual metabolic disorder characterized by progressive extrapyramidal dysfunction and dementia. A 27-year-old Caucasian presented with a major depression disorder and social phobia since adolescence. Patient had marked paranoia, auditory hallucinations, extrapyramidal dysfunction, poor memory, and gait abno...

Introduction Neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA) refers to a group of disorders that are characterized by iron accumulation, particularly in the basal ganglia (1). This process results in progressive dystonia, spasticity, Parkinsonism, neuropsychiatric abnormalities, optic atrophy or retinal degeneration. The worldwide prevalence of NBIA has been estimated at 1:1,000,000. The ...

Hallervorden Spatz disease is a rare disorder characterized by progressive extrapyramidal dysfunction. We report a case of a 18 year old boy who presented with cervical dystonia, pigmentary retinal degeneration and MRI brain showing the "eye-of-the-tiger" appearance. Renamed recently as "Neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation", we present this case for its rarity and interesting features.

Iron-responsive manganese uptake is increased in iron-deficient rats, suggesting that toxicity related to manganese exposure could be modified by iron status. To explore possible interactions, the distribution of intranasally-instilled manganese in control and iron-deficient rat brain was characterized by quantitative image analysis using T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Manganese ...

Hemochromatosis is an autosomal recessive disorder which leads to abnormal iron deposition in the parenchyma of multiple organs causing tissue damage. Accumulation of iron in the brain has been postulated to be associated with several neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease. The excess iron promotes Parkin and α-synuclein aggregation in the neurons. Excess iron has also been no...