Iron deficiency during development can impact which brain region?

Iron deficiency during development can impact which brain region?

• A. Hippocampus
• B. Cerebellum
• C. Frontal Lobe
• D. Occipital Lobe

Answer: (A)

Iron is essential for brain development, especially in regions with rapid growth and high plasticity like the hippocampus. During development, iron deficiency hampers the hippocampus’s maturation because iron supports energy production in mitochondria, DNA synthesis for proliferating cells, and the formation of synaptic connections. With reduced neurogenesis and less dendritic branching in the hippocampus, the circuits that underlie memory and learning don’t form as robustly. As a result, exposure to iron deficiency in development often leads to lasting difficulties on tasks that rely on hippocampus-dependent memory and spatial navigation. Other brain regions can be affected too, but the hippocampus shows the most consistent and impactful changes during development.

Iron is essential for brain development, especially in regions with rapid growth and high plasticity like the hippocampus. During development, iron deficiency hampers the hippocampus’s maturation because iron supports energy production in mitochondria, DNA synthesis for proliferating cells, and the formation of synaptic connections. With reduced neurogenesis and less dendritic branching in the hippocampus, the circuits that underlie memory and learning don’t form as robustly. As a result, exposure to iron deficiency in development often leads to lasting difficulties on tasks that rely on hippocampus-dependent memory and spatial navigation. Other brain regions can be affected too, but the hippocampus shows the most consistent and impactful changes during development.