Research suggests that older adults with cholesterol levels that go up and down significantly from year to year could face a higher risk of developing dementia and experiencing cognitive decline than those with more stable cholesterol.
This study, presented at the American Heart Association’s conference, is still in early stages, meaning it hasn’t been fully reviewed and published yet. However, it offers some interesting insights into how cholesterol changes might be linked to brain health as people age.
For those whose cholesterol levels tended to rise but became more unpredictable, the risk of dementia was especially high. On the other hand, those whose cholesterol levels fluctuated but gradually became steadier showed lower risk.
Dr. Zhen Zhou, one of the lead researchers from Monash University in Australia, explained that big drops or increases in cholesterol in older people might serve as an early warning of potential cognitive issues or early-stage dementia.
Regularly monitoring cholesterol changes in older people could be useful for detecting and addressing cognitive issues early on.
It’s important, though, not to misinterpret these findings. Dr. Zhou emphasized that people should not avoid lowering high cholesterol levels, as keeping cholesterol in a healthy range is crucial for heart health and overall well-being.
Lowering high cholesterol is well-known to reduce the risk of heart diseases, which remain a major health concern for older adults.
Cholesterol itself is a waxy, fat-like substance that moves through the bloodstream. The liver produces cholesterol naturally, but people also get it from foods, especially those from animal sources like meat, cheese, and eggs.
Doctors usually measure both total cholesterol and its main types. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), often called “bad” cholesterol, can lead to plaque buildup in arteries, raising heart disease risk.
High-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good” cholesterol, helps remove bad cholesterol from the blood, reducing risk for heart issues. Triglycerides are another type of fat in the blood that, if high, can add to unhealthy cholesterol levels.
It’s known that high cholesterol not only impacts heart health but also increases the risk for dementia. A healthy range for total cholesterol is about 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), with LDL ideally at or below 100 mg/dL.
People can lower their cholesterol by eating healthier, being more active, and, when necessary, using medications like statins under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
In this study, researchers looked at nearly 10,000 older adults in the U.S. and Australia. They analyzed data from a larger study originally designed to see if taking low-dose aspirin could prevent illnesses in older adults.
Each participant’s cholesterol was measured at the start and during each annual visit for the first three years. Only those who didn’t change their cholesterol medications during the study period were included in the analysis.
Participants were 65 years or older and had no history of major heart issues, dementia, or cognitive impairment at the study’s start.
The researchers divided participants into four groups based on how much their total cholesterol and LDL levels changed over three years.
After about five years, those with the biggest changes in total cholesterol were 60% more likely to develop dementia and 23% more likely to show cognitive decline than those with the least change.
For LDL cholesterol, those with the greatest swings had a 48% higher risk for dementia and a 27% higher chance of cognitive decline compared to those with the least variation.
Interestingly, changes in HDL cholesterol or triglycerides didn’t appear to be linked to dementia or cognitive decline in this study.
While this study found a link between cholesterol changes and dementia, it couldn’t prove that one caused the other. Dr. Sudha Seshadri, a director at the University of Texas Health San Antonio, pointed out that cholesterol fluctuations might not directly lead to dementia.
Instead, they could signal other lifestyle changes or health conditions. For example, if a person’s diet or activity level is changing, it might affect cholesterol.
Or, if someone is beginning to have mild cognitive issues, they may be less consistent with their habits, which could result in cholesterol fluctuations.
Scientists are interested in how changes in health markers like blood pressure, heart rate, and blood sugar levels impact heart and brain health. However, until now, cholesterol has not received as much attention.
Dr. Zhou and her team suggest that large swings in LDL or total cholesterol might cause plaques in arteries to become unstable. These plaques can build up and, if they rupture, restrict blood flow to the brain, raising the risk of a stroke or other issues that can impact cognitive health.
The study’s experts advise that people should stay on any cholesterol-lowering medications as prescribed and try to keep lifestyle habits consistent.
Dr. Seshadri recommends that people should not stop or change their medications without talking to their doctor. Even simple lifestyle changes, like avoiding big diet shifts, could help keep cholesterol stable and may have broader health benefits.
In short, this research adds to growing evidence that a steady, healthy cholesterol level may benefit not just heart health but brain health as well, particularly as people age.
If you care about Alzheimer’s, please read studies about Vitamin D deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, and Oral cannabis extract may help reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about Vitamin B9 deficiency linked to higher dementia risk, and results showing flavonoid-rich foods could improve survival in Parkinson’s disease.
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