Low or High Levels of Hemoglobin May Increase Risk of Dementia

A study published in Neurology suggests low or high hemoglobin concentrations in the blood could elevate the risk of dementia later on, reports News-Medical . The study focused on 12,305 people, average age 65, without dementia. Hemoglobin readings at the start of the study showed 6 percent of the participants had anemia. Subjects were followed for a median of 12 years, during which 1,520 developed dementia, with Alzheimer's exhibited in 1,194 subjects. Individuals with anemia were 41 percent more likely to develop Alzheimer's and 34 percent more likely to develop any kind of dementia. Of the 745 participants with anemia, 128 developed dementia, versus 1,392 of the 11,560 people without anemia. Those with high hemoglobin levels also were more susceptible to dementia. Outcomes remained consistent following adjustment for other factors that could affect dementia risk, like smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and alcohol use.