New Research Suggests Low Iron Levels Linked to Increased Risk of Dementia
A recent study indicates that having low iron levels may heighten the risk of dementia and hasten its symptoms. While anaemia has previously been associated with severe health issues such as heart disease and kidney failure, researchers have now identified a connection between low iron reserves and dementia vulnerability. The study reveals that insufficient iron not only raises the likelihood of developing the disease but also diminishes the brain’s resilience to it, with a more pronounced impact observed in men.
In the UK, about eight percent of women and three percent of men suffer from anaemia, a condition caused by insufficient resources in the blood needed to transport adequate oxygen throughout the body. Common symptoms include fatigue, breathlessness, and heart palpitations. Iron deficiency anaemia can stem from a lack of dietary iron, as well as factors like heavy menstrual periods and pregnancy.
Conducted by researchers at Stockholm University and published in JAMA Neurology, the study monitored over 2,300 individuals aged over 60 without dementia for nine years. The researchers examined how fluctuations in iron levels influenced the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Blood samples taken at the beginning of the study were analyzed for tau levels, a protein that accumulates and forms tangles in the brain, believed to contribute to Alzheimer’s symptoms.
The study also measured levels of haemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells responsible for oxygen transportation, which is produced with the help of iron. Anaemia was defined as haemoglobin levels below 120g per liter for women and 130g per liter for men.
Individuals with anaemia were found to be 66 percent more likely to develop Alzheimer’s compared to those with normal haemoglobin levels. Moreover, low haemoglobin levels were linked to higher levels of the tau protein p-tau217, considered a specific blood marker for Alzheimer’s disease.
Interestingly, while more women are affected by anaemia, men showed a higher dementia risk associated with the condition. The researchers noted that females, due to reproductive factors, tend to have lower haemoglobin levels and higher anaemia prevalence earlier in life. On the other hand, anaemia in males is often driven by diseases, inflammation, or deficiencies. The study suggests that females’ lower baseline haemoglobin levels may provide greater resilience to anaemia, thereby lessening its impact on brain health. These findings imply that anaemia could be a significant factor in dementia risk and potentially a target for dementia prevention strategies.
