A recent study suggests that having low iron levels may heighten the risk of dementia and hasten its symptoms. While anemia has previously been associated with serious health issues like heart disease and kidney failure, researchers have now uncovered a correlation between low iron reserves and dementia vulnerability. This link not only increases the likelihood of developing the disease but also diminishes the brain’s ability to withstand it, especially among men.
In the UK, approximately eight percent of women and three percent of men suffer from anemia, a condition resulting from insufficient blood resources needed to adequately transport oxygen throughout the body. Common symptoms of anemia include fatigue, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations. Iron deficiency anemia can stem from a lack of iron in the diet, as well as factors such as heavy menstrual bleeding and pregnancy.
The study, conducted by researchers from Stockholm University and published in the journal JAMA Neurology, monitored 2,300 individuals over the age of 60 without dementia for nine years. It examined how fluctuations in iron levels influenced the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The participants’ blood was analyzed at the study’s onset for levels of tau, a protein that accumulates and tangles in the brain, believed to contribute to Alzheimer’s symptoms.
Additionally, the study recorded levels of hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells responsible for oxygen transport, which relies on iron for its production. Anemia was defined as blood hemoglobin levels of 120g per liter or less for women and 130g per liter or less for men.
Individuals with anemia were found to be 66 percent more likely to develop Alzheimer’s compared to those with normal hemoglobin levels. Low hemoglobin levels were also linked to higher levels of the tau protein p-tau217, considered a specific blood marker for Alzheimer’s disease.
Although more women experience anemia, the study revealed that men with anemia faced a higher dementia risk. The researchers noted that while females typically have lower hemoglobin levels and higher rates of anemia due to reproductive factors early in life, anemia in males is often driven by disease, inflammation, or deficiencies. The study suggests that anemia plays a role in dementia risk and could potentially be a target for preventive strategies against dementia.
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