A new study suggests that high levels of HDL cholesterol, often called “good cholesterol,” may be linked to a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease in women after menopause.
This finding is surprising because HDL cholesterol is usually seen as helpful for heart health.
The study was published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. It was led by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health. They found that as women age and go through menopause, it’s not just the amount of HDL cholesterol that matters—it’s also how well it works.
HDL particles come in different sizes and types, and their quality can change over time. In this study, researchers looked at blood samples from 503 women who were part of a long-term project called the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN).
The researchers noticed that older women had more large HDL particles, but these larger particles didn’t work as well as the smaller ones.
Between the years 2000 and 2016, the researchers tested the women’s memory regularly. They found that women who had more small HDL particles, especially those rich in a substance called phospholipids, tended to have better memory as they got older. Phospholipids help keep brain cells healthy.
Dr. Samar R. El Khoudary, the lead researcher and a professor at Pitt Public Health, explained that memory loss is often the first sign of Alzheimer’s disease. This makes the study’s findings important. It shows that the quality of HDL particles—not just how much HDL you have—could play a role in brain health for aging women.
But there is some good news. Earlier research from Dr. El Khoudary’s team has shown that healthy habits can improve the quality of HDL particles. Following the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 tips—like exercising, keeping a healthy weight, and not smoking—can help improve HDL function.
So even if someone has high HDL levels, healthy habits might make those particles work better and support brain health.
Dr. El Khoudary says it’s a good idea to start these healthy habits early, even in your 40s. The same actions that protect your heart can also protect your brain.
The study’s first author, Dr. Meiyuzhen Qi, worked with scientists from several top universities, including the University of Pennsylvania, UCLA, and the University of Michigan. Their work helps us better understand how aging and menopause might affect memory and brain function.
This study adds to what we know about cholesterol and brain health. It shows that there’s a complex link between cholesterol, menopause, and memory problems. It also shows how important it is to live a healthy lifestyle to support both heart and brain health.
If you’re interested in Alzheimer’s research, you can also check out studies on the causes of Alzheimer’s, new non-drug treatments, and how diet and lifestyle changes might help prevent dementia.
If you care about Alzheimer’s, please read studies about the likely cause of Alzheimer’s disease, and new non-drug treatment that could help prevent Alzheimer’s.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about diet that may help prevent Alzheimer’s, and results showing some dementia cases could be prevented by changing these 12 things.
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