For many years, HDL cholesterol has been known as the “good cholesterol.” Doctors often explain that higher HDL levels can help protect the heart by carrying harmful cholesterol away from blood vessels.
Because of this, many people believe that having high HDL cholesterol is always a positive sign for health.
But a new study is now raising questions about whether high HDL cholesterol is always beneficial, especially for women after menopause.
Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health found that certain types of HDL cholesterol may actually be linked to a higher risk of memory problems and Alzheimer’s disease in older women.
The findings were published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. The researchers say the study shows that the quality and function of HDL cholesterol may be more important than the overall amount.
The research focused on women going through menopause, a natural stage of aging when hormone levels change significantly. During menopause, levels of estrogen decline, and this can affect many parts of the body, including the heart, blood vessels, metabolism, and brain.
Scientists have long known that women face a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease later in life, especially after menopause. However, researchers are still trying to understand exactly why this happens and which biological changes may increase the risk.
In this new study, the researchers examined blood samples from 503 women who took part in a long-running project called the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation, also known as SWAN. This major research project has followed women over many years to better understand how aging and menopause affect health.
The research team discovered that HDL cholesterol changes as women grow older. HDL particles are not all the same. Some are small, while others are larger, and they may behave differently inside the body.
The researchers found that older women tended to have more large HDL particles. Surprisingly, these larger HDL particles did not seem to work as well as the smaller ones. Women with more small HDL particles, especially those rich in substances called phospholipids, appeared to have better memory as they aged.
Phospholipids are fatty substances that help build and protect cell membranes. They are especially important in the brain because brain cells rely on healthy membranes to communicate with one another properly. Scientists believe phospholipids may help support brain function and memory.
Between 2000 and 2016, the women in the study completed regular memory testing. The researchers compared the women’s HDL particle patterns with their memory performance over time.
They found that women with healthier small HDL particles generally performed better on memory tests as they grew older. On the other hand, simply having high HDL cholesterol levels did not necessarily mean better brain health.
Dr. Samar R. El Khoudary, the lead researcher and professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, explained that memory loss is often one of the earliest warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease.
Because of this, understanding how cholesterol affects memory could help scientists better predict and possibly reduce dementia risk in the future.
The findings challenge the common belief that all HDL cholesterol is equally protective. Instead, the study suggests that how HDL functions inside the body may matter more than the total amount measured in a standard blood test.
The researchers also shared some encouraging news. Earlier studies from Dr. El Khoudary’s research team found that healthy lifestyle habits may improve HDL quality and function. This means people may still be able to support both heart and brain health through daily choices.
The researchers recommend following the American Heart Association’s “Life’s Essential 8” guidelines. These include staying physically active, eating healthy foods, keeping a healthy weight, getting enough sleep, controlling blood pressure, managing blood sugar, avoiding smoking, and maintaining healthy cholesterol levels.
Exercise appears to be especially important because it may help improve how HDL particles function. Maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding smoking may also support healthier blood vessels and brain function.
Dr. El Khoudary said people should begin building healthy habits early, even during their 40s, before menopause begins. The researchers believe that actions taken earlier in life may help reduce the risk of memory problems later on.
The study involved scientists from several major universities, including the University of Pennsylvania, UCLA, and the University of Michigan. Together, the researchers hope their findings will help improve understanding of how menopause, cholesterol, and brain aging are connected.
Although more research is still needed, the study adds to growing evidence that Alzheimer’s disease is influenced by many different factors, including hormones, metabolism, blood vessel health, and lifestyle.
The findings also remind people that simple cholesterol numbers may not tell the whole story. Two people with the same HDL cholesterol level may still have very different health risks depending on how well their HDL particles function inside the body.
As scientists continue studying Alzheimer’s disease, researchers hope better understanding of cholesterol and menopause may eventually lead to improved ways to protect memory and brain health in aging women.
If you care about Alzheimer’s disease, please read studies about the protective power of dietary antioxidants against Alzheimer’s, and eating habits linked to higher Alzheimer’s risk.
For more health information, please see recent studies that oral cannabis extract may help reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms, and Vitamin E may help prevent Parkinson’s disease.
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