Keith Erikson

Keith Erikson is a Professor in the Department of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, specializing in trace element metabolism and neurotoxicity. His NIH-funded research focuses on manganese neurotoxicity mechanisms, particularly its targeting of dopamine-rich brain regions and the protective role of dietary components. Historically relevant to industrial exposures, his work now addresses emerging concerns with manganese gasoline additives (MMT) and identified iron deficiency as a significant risk factor for manganese accumulation.

His research explores abnormal trace element metabolism using animal models and cell culture, with current projects investigating: manganese neurotoxicity mechanisms; glutamate/GABA biology disruptions; iron deficiency-associated manganese accumulation impacts on GABA/dopamine interactions; and the dopamine transporter's role in neuronal manganese uptake.

Erikson's publications demonstrate consistent focus on manganese-iron interactions, neurochemical alterations, and dietary influences. Recent work (2019-2025) shows increasing emphasis on obesity-diet interactions, nanomaterials, neurodegenerative models, and sex/strain differences in metabolic responses. His neurotoxicology research integrates molecular mechanisms with behavioral outcomes using advanced animal models and imaging techniques.