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Anemia poses risk for dementia in older adults

Anemia was associated with an increased risk for developing dementia in older adults, according to recent study results published in Neurology.

"There are several explanations for why anemia may be linked to dementia," study researcher Kristine Yaffe, MD, of the University of California, San Francisco, said in a press release. "For example, anemia may be a marker for poor health in general, or low oxygen levels resulting from anemia may play a role in the connection. Reductions in oxygen to the brain have been shown to reduce memory and thinking abilities and may contribute to damage to neurons."

The study included 2,552 dementia-free older adults (mean age, 76.1 years) who were followed for 11 years. Study participants were tested for anemia at baseline, and dementia diagnoses were based on medication use, hospital records and changes in the Modified Mini-Mental State exam.

Of the entire cohort, 15.4% had baseline anemia. During the follow-up period, 17.8% developed dementia. In unadjusted analyses, older adults with anemia were at an increased risk for dementia (23% vs. 17%; HR=1.64; 95% CI, 1.30-2.07) compared with those free of anemia, and the association remained significant even after adjusting for factors such as demographics, presence of the apolipoprotein E gene, comorbidities and renal function.

"Our findings support the hypothesis that anemia may be a risk factor for incident dementia over time in a cohort of dementia-free older adults, but in order to further determine whether prevention strategies for dementia should especially target hemoglobin levels in older adults or should instead focus on improving general health status, additional studies are needed to establish the mechanisms of this association," the researchers wrote.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.