- A study by NYU Langone Health suggests that a specific blood type may reduce the risk of dementia in people over the age of 13.
- Researchers analyzed 12,409 people without dementia aged 55 on average; 3,008 participants developed dementia, while 5,238 had dementia.
- The researchers noted that the results could be linked to the fact that blood type is associated with higher levels of certain proteins in the blood.
In a new study, researchers at NYU Langone Health in the United States found that three blood types were associated with a lower risk of dementia compared with the rest. Based on the study materials, the risk of dementia in people with an average age of 13 years without developing dementia was lower.
The study analyzed 12,409 people who did not have dementia at age 55. Researchers followed these people over time, and the dementia risk was lower among those who had blood type compared with those who had other blood types.
During the observation period, 3,008 participants developed dementia, while 5,238 people had dementia. Among those aged 55, people without dementia had a 30.1% lower risk of dementia than those with dementia, which was a group of 17 years.
The researchers also noted that the results of the study could be explained by the fact that blood type is associated with levels of certain proteins in the blood: for those with one blood type, the average period without dementia was 26.3 years; for those with two—21 years; and for those with three—more than 17 years. However, the researchers emphasized that the results do not mean that blood type directly causes dementia, and that the study did not include all possible factors.
Senior study author Yozef Koresch, director of the Optimal Aging Institute at NYU Langone, said the study suggests that blood type may be linked to the risk of developing dementia. The researchers also noted that the study was published in the journal Neurology.
The study by CNN also reported that the research found a link between blood type and dementia risk, and that the cause may involve proteins in the blood. According to the study materials, the results come from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, which involved more than 12,400 participants in the United States and followed them over time.
According to a statement from Alzheimer’s Research UK, Dr. Jack Ganley said that the findings do not necessarily mean that blood type itself determines dementia risk. He added that the study suggests a link but does not prove that blood type is the cause of dementia. The charity also noted that other factors, including diabetes and heart disease, may play a role in dementia risk.