This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.

Cocaine addiction causes abnormal iron regulation in brain

Recent findings indicated cocaine addiction may cause iron dysregulation in the brain, which could lead to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease.

“Stimulant drugs acutely increase dopamine neurotransmission in the brain, and chronic use leads to neuroadaptive changes in the mesolimbic dopamine system and morphological changes in basal ganglia structures,” Karen Ersche, PhD, of University of Cambridge, and colleagues wrote. “Little is known about the mechanisms underlying these changes but preclinical evidence suggests that iron, a coenzyme in dopamine synthesis and storage, may be a candidate mediator.”

To assess associations between changes in the brain and abnormal iron regulation in cocaine addiction, researchers used quantitative susceptibility mapping and iron markers in circulating blood to determine iron concentration in the brain and periphery among 44 individuals with cocaine addiction and 44 controls.

Study participants with cocaine addiction exhibited excess iron accumulation in the globus pallidus, which was significantly associated with cocaine use duration.

Further, participants with cocaine addiction exhibited mild iron deficiency in the periphery, which was associated with low iron levels in the red nucleus.

“The demonstration of iron dysregulation in cocaine addiction raises several important questions including, how this develops over time, whether iron deficiency increases the vulnerability to developing stimulant addiction, contributes to the persistence of the disorder, or leads to the long-term sequelae such as accelerated brain ageing and behavioral and motor rigidity that continue in recovery,” the researchers wrote. “A more critical question that follows from the above is whether impaired iron regulation might be a biomarker of disease progression or a therapeutic target for cocaine addiction, either through addressing peripheral iron deficiency to modify disease course, or by slowing or reversing the central accumulation of iron.” – by Amanda Oldt

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.