Evidence for association of anaemia with vascular dementia

THE present investigation aimed to examine associations of anaemia with dem entia. Analysis of community-dwelling, elderly subjects characterized for d ifferent dementias failed to confirm a previously reported association of a naemia with Alzheimer's disease (AD) but revealed instead a significant ass ociation with vascular dementia (VAD). Nearly 45% of VAD subjects were anae mic, compared with 17% of controls. Close to one-third of all subjects with haemoglobin levels >0.5g/dl below reference anaemia levels had VAD. Go-exi sting VAD may explain previous links between AD and anaemia. The associatio n was independent of age, dementia severity and a range of other factors in cluding vitamin B 12 and folate levels. Anaemia can exacerbate focal cerebr al ischaemia and could precipitate or amplify VAD symptoms in elderly subje cts with vasculopathy. NeuroReport 10:2377-2381 (C) 1999 Lippincott William s & Wilkins.