Nanoscale biogenic iron oxides and neurodegenerative disease

One of the characteristics of many neurodegenerative diseases is the disrup tion of normal iron homeostasis in the brain. Recent experimental work indi cates that nanoscale magnetic biominerals (primarily magnetite and maghemit e) may be associated with senile plaques and tan filaments found in brain t issue affected by these diseases, These findings have important implication s for our understanding of the role of iron in neurodegenerative disease as well as profound implications for their causes, In addition, the presence of biogenic magnetite in affected tissue should also provide improved mecha nisms for early detection through the modification of MR] pulse sequences. (C) 2001 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevie r Science B.V. All rights reserved.