A study suggests that having low iron levels may heighten the risk of dementia and hasten its symptoms. Previous research has linked anaemia to severe health issues such as heart disease and kidney failure. However, a new connection has been found between low iron reserves and an increased vulnerability to dementia, particularly in men.

In the UK, around eight percent of women and three percent of men suffer from anaemia, a condition caused by insufficient blood resources to adequately transport oxygen throughout the body. Common symptoms include fatigue, breathlessness, and heart palpitations. Iron deficiency anaemia can result from a lack of dietary iron intake, as well as factors like heavy menstrual periods and pregnancy.

A study by researchers at Stockholm University, published in JAMA Neurology, monitored 2,300 individuals over the age of 60 without dementia for nine years. The study examined how fluctuations in iron levels influenced the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Blood samples taken at the study’s commencement were analyzed for tau protein levels, a protein associated with Alzheimer’s symptoms.

The study also recorded levels of haemoglobin, a protein essential for oxygen transportation in red blood cells that is produced with the help of iron. Anaemia was defined as haemoglobin levels of 120g per liter or less for women and 130g per liter or less for men.

Individuals with anaemia were found to be 66 percent more likely to develop Alzheimer’s compared to those with normal haemoglobin levels. Low haemoglobin levels were also linked to elevated levels of the tau protein p-tau217, considered a specific blood marker for Alzheimer’s disease.

While more women are affected by anaemia, the study revealed that anaemia posed a higher dementia risk in men. The researchers noted that females’ lower baseline haemoglobin levels due to reproductive factors might offer greater resilience to anaemia, potentially mitigating its impact on brain health. The findings suggest that anaemia could be a contributing factor to dementia risk and may be a target for preventive strategies against dementia.