Relationship between hemoglobin and specific cognitive domain among older adults using network analysis

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neuroscience
• Hematology

Background:

• Hemoglobin (Hgb) levels influence cerebral oxygenation and perfusion, impacting cognitive function.
• Existing research often overlooks the specific cognitive domains affected by Hgb levels.
• Understanding these domain-specific associations is vital for older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and visualize interactive associations between hemoglobin levels and specific cognitive domains in older adults.
• To investigate how different cognitive domains relate to hemoglobin levels.
• To provide insights for managing cognitive health in aging populations.

Main Methods:

• Secondary data analysis of Wave II National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP) data.
• Inclusion of 1022 older adults aged 65-85 years.
• Utilized mixed graphical models (R-package 'mgm') to estimate network structures, with models adjusting for varying covariates.

Main Results:

• Visuospatial and memory domains showed consistent associations with Hgb across all models.
• The attention domain was associated with Hgb in models without full covariate adjustment.
• Hemoglobin predictability was highest (8.1%) in the fully adjusted model.

Conclusions:

• Cognition should be viewed as a multidimensional construct.
• Specific cognitive domains require tailored assessment and management in relation to Hgb levels in older adults.
• This research highlights the importance of domain-specific analysis for understanding Hgb-cognition relationships.