Ironic fate: can a banned drug control metal heavies in neurodegenerative diseases?

Abstract

In this issue of Neuron, Kaur et al. demonstrate that iron chelation by ferritin transgene or the metal chelator clioquinol prevent oxidative damage and MPTP toxicity in mice. This raises the issue of specific iron chelators or clioquinol for control of oxidative damage in Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and other neurodegenerative diseases, but not without safety concerns.