Anemia has previously been linked to a higher risk of early death in elderly people. A new study indicates that it might contribute to dementia, as well.
Anemia is a condition in which the body doesn’t have adequate red blood cells to transport oxygen to tissues. Anemia is common among seniors, occurring in as many as 23 percent of people 65 and older, according to the study, published online Wednesday in the journal Neurology.
The research, led by Dr. Kristine Yaffe at the University of California-San Francisco, analyzed 2,552 patients between the ages of 70 and 79. Of those, 393 had anemia. Of that subset, 89, or 22.6 percent, developed dementia. Among the non-anemic group, 17 percent developed dementia.
There are several explanations for the link, Yaffe said in a statement: Anemia might be a marker of poor overall health; or the lower oxygen levels produced by anemia could play a role. “Reductions in oxygen to the brain have been shown to reduce memory and thinking abilities and may contribute to damage to neurons,” Yaffe said.
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