What is it about?
People with schizophrenia show overactive dopamine production in the brain’s basal ganglia. This neuroimaging study reveals for the first time that lower brain iron levels are linked to higher dopamine synthesis, suggesting that iron may play a key role in the dopamine changes seen in schizophrenia.
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Why is it important?
These findings indicate that assessing iron status could help to identify people at risk for schizophrenia early. Additionally, treating brain iron deficiency, potentially through dietary or nutritional strategies, represents a promising new avenue for prevention and treatment.
Perspectives
We hope this article encourages further research into how altered iron metabolism contributes to schizophrenia, a complex question given iron’s essential role in numerous biological processes.
Luke Vano
King's College London
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Reduced Brain Iron and Striatal Hyperdopaminergia in Schizophrenia: A Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping MRI and PET Study, American Journal of Psychiatry, September 2025, American Psychiatric Association,
DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20240512.
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