To examine the association between hemoglobin levels, dementia risk, and specific Alzheimer's disease (AD) blood biomarkers (NfL, GFAP, p-tau217) in older adults.
Key Findings:
Anemia affects approximately 10% of individuals aged 65 and older in the US, significantly increasing dementia risk and cognitive deterioration.
Blood biomarkers of AD correlate with in vivo measures and reflect early pathological changes, indicating their potential as early indicators of dementia.
Individuals with anemia showed elevated levels of several AD blood biomarkers, suggesting a link between anemia and AD pathology.
Interpretation:
The interplay between anemia and AD blood biomarkers may provide insights into the mechanisms linking anemia to dementia development, potentially guiding future research and interventions.
Limitations:
Limited evidence on the causal relationship between anemia and AD pathology, with potential confounding factors such as medication use and lifestyle factors not fully accounted for in the analysis.
Conclusion:
Investigating anemia's relationship with AD biomarkers could enhance understanding of dementia progression, informing clinical practices and future research directions.
by Martina Valletta, Davide Liborio Vetrano, Chengxuan Qiu, Marco Canevelli, Edoardo Miccoli, Sarah Andersson, Claudia Fredolini, Giuseppe Bruno, Bengt Winblad, Laura Fratiglioni, Giulia Grande
