Aluminium and iron in the brain—prospects for chelation

Aluminium and iron both accumulate in the brain in the course of ageing. We first briefly review how aluminium may interfere with iron metabolism through its interaction with iron homeostatic mechanisms. Then we present comparative data on the chelation of brain aluminium and iron in appropriate animal models of loading with the two metals. With both desferrioxamine (DFO) B and hydroxypyridone derivatives, brain iron is much more difficult to chelate than brain aluminium. This probably reflects the localisation of the former in ferritin and haemosiderin, and the latter in a more labile, non-protein form. The potential of long-term chelation therapy in the prevention of a number of neurodegenerative diseases associated with ageing is discussed.