A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers at Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet and published in JAMA Network Open reveals that anemia increases the risk of developing dementia by 66% in older adults. Tracking 2,282 Swedish individuals aged 60 and older over a 16-year period, researchers measured hemoglobin levels and dementia-related blood protein biomarkers to understand how persistent anemia impacts cognitive health. The biological link stems from long-term oxygen deprivation in the brain, which triggers oxidative stress, neuronal loss, and impaired cerebrovascular function—ultimately accelerating brain shrinkage and the accumulation of harmful proteins like beta-amyloid, tau 207, and GFAP. Given that approximately 10% of older adults suffer from anemia, it represents a critical, yet manageable, risk factor for cognitive decline. To mitigate this threat, experts strongly emphasize that regular medical check-ups for the early detection and treatment of anemia are essential to safeguarding long-term brain health.
