“…In the context of human development, iron and functional networks change throughout childhood to support neurocognitive maturation ( Larsen and Luna, 2015 , Ning et al, 2014 ). Studies of typically developing children have shown that both brain iron and neural activity are linked to various domains of cognitive performance ( Larsen et al, 2020a ), including working memory ( Darki et al, 2016 , Sala-Llonch et al, 2012 ), processing speed ( Hect et al, 2018 , Wang et al, 2022 ), and IQ ( Carpenter et al, 2016 , Hect et al, 2018 ). Deficient brain iron concentration and altered neural activity have also reliably been reported in populations with neurodevelopmental disorders, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) ( Adisetiyo et al, 2014a , Cortese et al, 2012b , Yu-Feng et al, 2007 ) and autism ( Karavallil Achuthan et al, 2023 , Tang et al, 2021 ).…”