Iron Dysregulation in a Mouse Model of Stuttering

A new preprint study explores whether brain iron levels may play a role in stuttering. Using mice engineered with a stuttering-linked Gnptab mutation, the researchers identified significantly increased iron accumulation in the striatum, a brain region critical for motor control.

The study also found that this excess iron was localized in astrocytes, where it was associated with reduced cell size and complexity. Notably, treatment with an iron-chelating drug improved the animals’ vocalization deficits.

These findings suggest a novel link between genetic mutations, brain iron dysregulation, and speech-related behavior. The work highlights iron regulation as a promising area for future stuttering research and potential therapeutic development.

Read the full article here.

Reference:
Millwater M, Bragg C, Bishop D, Adeck A, Karutury RC, Weinhold M, Rao PPN, Zhang R, SheikhBahaei S. Iron dysregulation in mice engineered with a mutation associated with stuttering. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2025 Jul 31:2025.07.30.667752. doi: 10.1101/2025.07.30.667752.