Among the elderly, anemia occurs with increasing frequency with each advancing decade. Unlike when anemia occurs in younger adults, the cause of anemia in the elderly is oftentimes not readily apparent or attributable to a single cause. However, this commonly observed form of anemia in the elderly (termed Unexplained Anemia or UA) can generally be dissected to its root causes, which include renal insufficiency, inflammation, testosterone deficiency and stem cell proliferative decline. Myelodysplasia (MDS) occurs commonly in this age group but can and should, for both diagnostic and therapeutic considerations, be distinguished from UA. This research involves a comprehensive assessment of the mechanisms involved in the development of anemia in unselected patients and the functional consequences of anemia with regard to physical performance and quality of life. From this analysis strategies will be developed to assess whether correction of anemia will result in improvement in these (or other) selected parameters.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Investigator-Initiated Intramural Research Projects (ZIA)
Project #
1ZIAAG000969-04
Application #
8335998
Study Section
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
Budget End
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$394,734
Indirect Cost
Name
National Institute on Aging
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
State
Country
Zip Code
Patel, Kushang V; Semba, Richard D; Ferrucci, Luigi et al. (2010) Red cell distribution width and mortality in older adults: a meta-analysis. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 65:258-65
Ferrucci, Luigi; Semba, Richard D; Guralnik, Jack M et al. (2010) Proinflammatory state, hepcidin, and anemia in older persons. Blood 115:3810-6
Kanapuru, Bindu; Ershler, William B (2009) Inflammation, coagulation, and the pathway to frailty. Am J Med 122:605-13
Thein, Mya; Ershler, William B; Artz, Andrew S et al. (2009) Diminished quality of life and physical function in community-dwelling elderly with anemia. Medicine (Baltimore) 88:107-14
Makipour, Sasan; Kanapuru, Bindu; Ershler, William B (2008) Unexplained anemia in the elderly. Semin Hematol 45:250-4