Iron Deficiency and its Influence on Memory and Learning: Insights form Preclinical and Clinical Studies

Introduction: Iron deficiency is a public health problem that affects 25% of the world's population, with pregnant women and children being the most vulnerable groups. Recently, the fundamental role that iron plays in the functions of glial cells and neurons, which are involved in memory and learning, has been understood. Objective: To explore the most up-to-date evidence linking iron deficiency with memory and hippocampus-dependent learning, both in preclinical and clinical studies. Methods: Narrative review based on a search of articles in PubMed, Scopus, Scielo and Google, following the SANRA guidelines to narrative reviews. Results: In the preclinical and clinical studies analyzed, it has been reported that iron deficiency is associated with alterations within the nervous system, being the fetal/neonatal stage and childhood the most compromised, mainly affecting learning, memory, gross and fine motor skills, temperament and the mother-child relationship. Conclusions: Iron deficiency negatively affects memory and learning, altering myelination, energy metabolism and neuronal signaling in the hippocampus.