Researchers at Duke University Separate the Brain's 'Bad' from 'Good' Iron

There are two forms of iron in the brain, one that is beneficial and one that is destructive. Researchers at Duke University are exploring how to remove the dangerous forms of iron, which can be a cause of both Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, while leaving the benign forms of iron that the body needs in order to perform everyday functions.

The process is not easy, if they were to use the existing metal binding chelating modules. With these agents, which search out iron and bind to it, they would not be sure if they were only pulling out the bad iron and not some of the good iron.

In order to eliminate this problem, the researchers have developed what they call pro chelators. Unlike the ones now used, which will go in and pull out whatever it finds, these new ones will be encased in chemicals. This will enable them to enter the brain like the older ones, but they would not activate until they come in contact with a site that shows potential damage. This way it will only attach to iron that will cause problems and leave the rest to do its work.

It works like this. Sites that have the potential to cause damage will consist of both iron and hydrogen peroxide. The two of them come together and cause a reaction called a "Fenton reaction." This reaction can in turn lead to producing a very reactive chemical group containing oxygen. This group is called a hydroxyl radical.

The hydroxyl radical group is very toxic and it can cause oxidation, which can cause stress in the brain cells. This process has been identified as a cause of not only Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, but also other conditions associated with aging such as macular eye degeneration

It is the excess amounts of hydrogen peroxide that will signal the chemical coating to allow the pro-chelators to activate and soak up and deactivate the dangerous iron.