Neuroimaging of Donor Iron Deficient Study (DIDS)

Iron, the most abundant metal in the brain, is vital for multiple cellular processes, including neurotransmitter synthesis, neuron myelination, and mitochondrial function. In the United States, of the donors who provided the ~15 million units of red blood cells that were collected for transfusion, 69% were repeat donors. Although iron deficiency is surprisingly prevalent in first-time donors, its prevalence is even higher in these particularly altruistic frequent donors, (i.e., up to 49% and 66% of male and female repeat donors, respectively), manifested as iron depletion or iron-deficient erythropoiesis. Iron deficiency from blood donation is associated with fatigue, restless leg syndrome, decreased physical endurance and work capacity, and impaired concentration, attention, and other neurocognitive functions; however, these conclusions are not based on definitive studies and have not yet changed blood donation policy. This study is to collect data through noninvasive procedures routinely employed in clinical practice to better understand how iron treatment may affect brain functions.