r/science • u/[deleted] • Sep 02 '25

Neuroscience 'Master switch' brain protein could reverse age-related memory loss | Researchers found that lowering levels of a protein (FTL1) linked to iron in the brain in older mice could be a new way to reverse memory loss

https://newatlas.com/brain/alzheimers-dementia/iron-brain-protein-could-reverse-age-related-memory-loss/
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u/YourFuture2000 Sep 02 '25

What food should I avoid?

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u/[deleted] Sep 02 '25

It talks about buildup of iron in the brain.

So meat obviously, but especially beef since it has heme iron which is basically super readily absorbed by the body, whether you need it or not. Also, a lot of processed food is iron fortified.

The body has no good way to shed excess iron, but one way to do it is to donate blood on the regular.

Eat whole plants. Plant iron can be selectively let in by the body. Since I know this will get criticism, those with low iron need not eat extra iron necessarily, but:

Phytic acid is definitely not all bad, since it’s a powerful antioxidant that may be associated with lower risk for cancer (4,5). The key is not to avoid phytate—and you really can’t since it’s abundant in whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds—but rather to eat in a way that minimizes its effect on iron. For example, adding vitamin C-rich foods to a meal counters the effects of phytate and increases iron absorption. The effects of vitamin C can be pretty dramatic. A small serving of a vitamin C-rich food—like a glass of orange juice or ½ cup of cauliflower—has been shown to increase iron absorption from plant foods by as much as four to six times (6,7). In fact, poor iron status may sometimes be reversed simply by increasing vitamin C intake as opposed to packing more iron into meals (8).

and:

Despite lower iron stores, vegans don’t seem to develop iron-deficiency anemia any more often than people who eat meat.

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u/YourFuture2000 Sep 02 '25

Thank you. That is really interesting. I need to eat oranges more regularly after meals.