A new study published in JAMA Network Open Reinforces a very important message:The brain does not work separately from the rest of the body.The researchers found that anemia in older age was also linked to higher levels of biomarkers related to Alzheimer's, as well as a higher risk of developing dementia later in life. The broader implication is that when you don't maintain good overall health—blood, oxygenation, metabolism, and underlying diseases—the impact can also reach the brain, sometimes only years later.

What did they investigate?
The researchers used data from a large Swedish population study of 2,282 adults aged 60 and older who were free of dementia at baseline. They measured hemoglobin levels in the blood, whether anemia was present as defined by the World Health Organization, and biomarkers typical of Alzheimer's disease in the blood. They then followed the participants for an average of 9.3 years to see who would develop dementia.

What did they find?
It found that people with anemia had higher levels of blood markers associated with Alzheimer's and nerve damage at baseline. In addition, anemia was associated with a 66% increased risk of developing dementia during follow-up. The risk was particularly high in those who had both anemia and high levels of the blood markers: for example, those with anemia and high levels of NfL had a particularly high risk of dementia.

What are the conclusions?
The researchers suggest that this is not just a coincidence. It is possible that anemia contributes to the processes of brain damage through poor oxygenation, oxidative stress, damage to blood vessels, or a decrease in the brain’s ability to cope with degenerative processes. Simply put: brain health also depends on the health of the body. The brain needs a good oxygen supply, healthy blood vessels, and a healthy metabolic environment—and when these systems are compromised, the price may later appear in memory and cognitive function.

What are the recommendations for the public?
The message to the public is not to panic, but to understand that there is real importance toMaintaining overall health throughout the years: Screening and treating anemia, balancing chronic diseases, good nutrition, preventing nutritional deficiencies, regular medical monitoring, and treating cardiac and metabolic risk factors. Studies like this remind us once again that dementia does not “fall from the sky” — it is sometimes related to cumulative physical processes that build up over years.

The main message from the study:
To take care of your brain, you also need to take care of your body. Anemia is a good example of this: a seemingly “general” medical condition that may be linked to an increased risk of dementia years later.

The full article:

• Link: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2847873

• Reference:

Fredolini, C., Bruno, G., Winblad, B., Fratiglioni, L., & Grande, G. (2026). Anemia and blood biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease in dementia development. JAMA Network Open, 9(4), e264029. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.4029