New findings reveal that a common health condition may increase the risk of developing dementia by more than half. The good news is that this condition is treatable in most cases.
In a Swedish study, researchers examined the relationship between cognitive decline and anemia (a disease that affects red blood cells and hemoglobin). They found that participants with anemia were 66% more likely to develop dementia than those with normal hemoglobin levels.
The researchers also identified other warning signs: Anemia was linked to key biomarkers associated with Alzheimer's disease, most notably the protein "phosphorylated tau protein at position 217," or "p-tau217" for short, suggesting a possible link between low hemoglobin and the building blocks that Alzheimer's uses to build itself in the brain.
Even more alarming was the combination of the two factors: people with anemia who also had high Alzheimer's indicators were more likely to develop dementia, reinforcing the hypothesis that there is a link between anemia and nerve cell damag
Dr. Leron Senvani, director of research at the Northwell Institute for Healthy Aging, explains that a diagnosis of anemia means that a person has a low red blood cell count. She says, "This is important because red blood cells carry oxygen. The fewer there are, the less oxygen gets to the brain."
When the brain doesn't receive enough oxygen, it enters a state of "oxidative stress," leading to the loss of nerve cells, increased susceptibility to inflammation, and a reduced ability to detoxify. All of these factors can make a person more prone to cognitive decline.
Despite these worrying results, Dr. Sinvani sees reason for optimism, saying: "Unlike some other dementia risk factors, anemia may be modifiable. We can treat it."
Because anemia is a very common condition, doctors are equipped with well-known tools to deal with it, such as modifying the diet, increasing iron intake, and conducting tests to detect ongoing blood loss.
Sinfani adds that a complete blood count is a simple routine test, and doctors usually do not intervene to treat anemia unless the patient is experiencing severe symptoms or a significant drop in blood levels.
Despite these findings, more research is still needed to confirm the direct link between anemia and dementia. Furthermore, scientists have not yet proven that treating anemia—for example, with iron supplements—necessarily reduces the risk of dementia.
Dr. Sinfani cautions against taking iron supplements without consulting a doctor, but urges greater attention to anemia, especially in older adults. She also suggests conducting similar studies on younger patients, saying, "If we can intervene early, anemia may be more manageable than we think."
