Red Cell Distribution Width and Dementia Among Rural-Dwelling Older Adults: The MIND-China Study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neurology
• Hematology

Background:

• Emerging evidence links anemia to dementia, but the role of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) remains unclear.
• Data on RDW's association with dementia and cognitive function in older adults are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between RDW and dementia in rural Chinese older adults.
• To examine the relationship between RDW and global cognitive performance.
• To explore these associations based on anemia status.

Main Methods:

• A population-based cross-sectional study of 5,115 Chinese adults aged 65+.
• Data collected via interviews, clinical exams, and lab tests.
• Dementia and cognitive function assessed using standard criteria and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).

Main Results:

• A J-shaped association was observed between RDW levels and dementia risk (ORs for quartiles: 1.45, 1.00, 1.77, 2.28).
• This pattern held for Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.
• The association was significant only in participants without anemia; anemia itself was not linked to dementia.

Conclusions:

• A J-shaped relationship exists between RDW and dementia likelihood in older rural Chinese adults.
• This association is particularly pronounced in individuals without anemia.
• RDW may serve as a predictive marker for dementia in this population.