A recent study published in Neurology has found a surprising connection between both high and low levels of HDL cholesterol, often referred to as “good” cholesterol, and a slightly increased risk of dementia in older adults.
Conducted by Maria Glymour, ScD, of Boston University, the research involved 184,367 participants from the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Health Plan. These individuals, averaging 70 years old, had no dementia at the study’s start.
Participants completed health surveys and had their cholesterol levels measured during routine health care visits, on average, 2.5 times over two years.
They were then monitored for an average of nine years through the Kaiser health care system’s electronic records. During this period, 25,214 individuals developed dementia.
Key Findings on Cholesterol and Dementia
The study’s significant findings included:
HDL Cholesterol Levels: The average HDL cholesterol level among participants was 53.7 mg/dL. Healthy levels are generally above 40 mg/dL for men and above 50 mg/dL for women.
Increased Dementia Risk: Participants with the highest HDL cholesterol levels showed a 15% higher rate of dementia compared to those with mid-range levels. Those with the lowest HDL levels had a 7% higher rate.
Other Factors Considered: The study accounted for various factors that could influence dementia risk, like alcohol use, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.
Low-density Lipoprotein (LDL) Cholesterol: The study found only a slight link between LDL cholesterol, known as “bad” cholesterol, and dementia risk.
Understanding the Clinical Significance
While the study revealed associations between HDL cholesterol levels and dementia risk, it’s important to note that it did not prove causation.
Glymour emphasized that the increases in dementia risk for both high and low HDL cholesterol levels were modest and their clinical significance remains uncertain.
In contrast, there was no notable association between LDL cholesterol and dementia risk in the overall study group.
Limitations of the Study
A notable limitation of this study was the voluntary nature of participation in the survey, which might mean that the findings aren’t fully representative of the broader population.
In conclusion, this study adds to the growing body of research suggesting complex links between cholesterol levels and various health outcomes, including dementia.
The findings highlight the need for further research to fully understand these associations and their implications for older adults’ health.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about Vitamin B9 deficiency linked to higher dementia risk, and cranberries could help boost memory.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about heartburn drugs that could increase risk of dementia, and results showing this MIND diet may protect your cognitive function, prevent dementia.
The research findings can be found in Neurology.
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