Brain Iron Levels Predict Cognitive Decline Risk

A new study demonstrates that brain iron levels, measured with a special MRI technique, can predict cognitive decline years before symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease appear. Researchers followed 158 cognitively healthy older adults and found that higher iron levels in memory-related regions of the brain were associated with a greater risk of mild cognitive impairment. This risk was even higher when participants also showed amyloid buildup, highlighting the interaction of multiple factors in dementia.