Iron deposits in the brain can be toxic and they have been suggested to be a possible cause of the damage seen in multiple sclerosis (MS). New research from Imperial College London (UCL) has shed more light on this theory, indicating that higher levels of a blood protein called haemoglobin may be to blame.

In a study of 140 people with SPMS, they found that brain shrinkage was associated with increased amounts of haemoglobin. They hypothesise that haemoglobin, which carries iron and oxygen around the body, is released from dying red blood cells and causes the iron deposits.

If correct, it could mean that free haemoglobin may be a new therapeutic target. Considering the important role that haemoglobin plays in the body, this would need to be a highly specific and targeted therapy. Whilst it is still a long way off, it is interesting to see more evidence being generated for long-held theories of the causes of damage in MS.

More detail on this study can be found here. For those who may have questions or ideas regarding this new hypothesis, please don’t hesitate to leave them below, or join the ongoing discussion on our Facebook page.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.