, shedding light on its vital role in normal brain function, aging, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer.medical professionals
One critical aspect of brain function is maintaining the balance, or homeostasis, of iron, crucial for overall health. Imbalances in brain iron levels have implications for various conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Until recently, the non-invasive assessment of the molecular iron environment within the living human brain posed a significant challenge.
In their in vitro experiments, this MRI technology revealed distinct paramagnetic properties of key iron compounds, including ferritin, transferrin, and ferrous iron., operated at the Neurosurgery Department at Shaare Zedek Medical Center where the technology was also validated against ex vivo iron compound quantification of the resected tumors. These ex vivo transcriptomics and proteomics analyses were done in the lab of Dr.
Shir Filo, explained,"Our technology opens up new possibilities for understanding the role of iron in cancer, normal aging, and neurodegenerative diseases. It enables non-invasive research and diagnosis of iron homeostasis in the living human brain, offering a potential game-changer for health care and neuroscience."