Summary: Older adults with significant fluctuations in cholesterol levels are at increased risk for dementia and cognitive decline, even without medication changes.
Key Facts: Cholesterol fluctuations: High variability in cholesterol levels was linked to a 60% increased risk of dementia.
LDL and total cholesterol: Variations in LDL and total cholesterol correlated with faster cognitive decline, affecting memory and reaction speed.
“We need future studies to help us understand the relationship between cholesterol variability and dementia risk,” Zhou said.
“Are cholesterol variability levels a real risk factor, a precursor or a biomarker of dementia risk?
In conclusion, even in the absence of medication adjustments, older adults with notable variations in their cholesterol levels are more susceptible to dementia and cognitive decline. Over the course of six years, researchers monitored the cholesterol levels and cognitive abilities of almost 10,000 elderly people. There was a 60% increase in dementia and a 23% increase in cognitive decline linked to high variability in total and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol.
The results emphasize the possibility of cholesterol variability as a risk factor or biomarker for cognitive health. This may result in future treatments that support brain health by stabilizing cholesterol. The study urges more investigation to pinpoint the precise role of cholesterol in dementia.
Key Facts:.
Cholesterol fluctuations: A 60% higher risk of dementia was associated with high levels of cholesterol variability.
Variations in LDL and total cholesterol have been linked to accelerated cognitive decline, which impacts memory and response time.
Cholesterol variability may serve as an early indicator of dementia, and future treatments may try to stabilize levels.
American Heart Association, n.d.
Preliminary research to be presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2024 suggests that significant annual variations in cholesterol levels in older adults without corresponding medication changes may be a sign of a higher risk of dementia or cognitive decline.
November’s meeting. Chicago, Illinois, 16–18, 2024, is a world-renowned conference for cardiovascular science research, scientific breakthroughs, and evidence-based clinical practice updates.
Lead author Zhen Zhou, Ph.D., stated that older adults with varying cholesterol levels “may warrant closer monitoring and proactive preventive interventions — especially those experiencing big year-to-year variations — unrelated to whether they were taking lipid-lowering medications.”. D. a postdoctoral research fellow at Monash University’s School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine in Melbourne, Australia.
Low-dose aspirin was found to be ineffective in lowering the risk of heart disease in adults in Australia and the United States. This study used the in-trial and post-trial data of participants in a randomized clinical trial called ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE).
Of the nearly 10,000 participants, one-third were taking cholesterol-lowering drugs, but none of them began, stopped, or switched during the follow-up period.
All participants had been having their cholesterol levels checked yearly and were generally healthy adults free of dementia. The degree to which each person’s lipid levels changed from year to year was ascertained using the first three cholesterol measurements obtained during the ASPREE study.
509 participants experienced dementia during the nearly six-year follow-up period following the annual assessments, while 1,760 others experienced cognitive decline but no dementia.
The study discovered that those with the most stable cholesterol levels were…
Increases in dementia and cognitive decline were linked to high fluctuations in total cholesterol (in the top 25 percent) by 60 percent and 23 percent, respectively.
Variations in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL cholesterol, or “bad” cholesterol) were linked to noticeably quicker drops in scores on memory and reaction speed tests as well as overall cognitive health tests.
High variations in triglycerides or high-density lipoproteins (HDL, or “good” cholesterol) were not linked to cognitive decline or dementia. The most prevalent form of fat in the body, triglycerides are used to store extra energy from meals.
Future research is necessary to fully comprehend the connection between dementia risk and cholesterol variability, Zhou stated.
Are variations in cholesterol levels a true risk factor, a sign of dementia risk, or a biomarker?
One explanation is that atherosclerotic plaques, which are primarily made of LDL cholesterol, may become unstable due to large variations in total and LDL cholesterol levels. This instability may increase the likelihood of plaque formation, rupture, and subsequent blockage of blood flow in the brain, potentially affecting brain function. “”.
Among the study’s limitations were the fact that there are numerous reasons why cholesterol levels can fluctuate and that these unconsidered factors may have an impact on the relationship between cholesterol variability and dementia risk.
Furthermore, the majority of study participants (96 percent) were white adults, so the results might not be generalizable to other demographic groups. This study is observational, so it cannot establish a causal link between changes in cholesterol and the risk of dementia.
Zhou stated that lowering cholesterol variability might be a viable therapeutic target for dementia if further research demonstrates a cause-and-effect relationship.
Crucially, our findings should not be misunderstood as indicating that lipid-lowering drugs or changing one’s lifestyle to lower cholesterol is bad for brain function. “”.
Data from 2017 to 2020 shows that 63 point 1 million, or 25 point 5 percent, of U.S. S. High levels of “bad” cholesterol (130 mg/dL or more) were found in adults. The Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics 2024 Update from the American Heart Association states that 3.72 million deaths worldwide in 2021 were linked to high levels of “bad” cholesterol.
Individual vascular risk factors and cognitive decline have been the subject of previous research. Fernando D. Testai, M.D, a volunteer expert with the American Heart Association, stated that there is evidence that an increase in the variability of specific bodily functions, like blood pressure or blood sugar levels, can be detrimental to the heart and brain. , Ph. A. FAHA, who is a neurology and rehabilitation professor at the University of Illinois Chicago, chaired the Association’s recent scientific statement on “Cardiac Contributions to Brain Health.”.
By demonstrating a link between rising cholesterol variability and cognitive decline, this study contributes a significant piece to the puzzle of maintaining brain health. Those who began or stopped taking lipid-lowering drugs during the study period were not included in the study. Therefore, statins’ effects cannot account for the results.
Practically speaking, the detrimental effects of unhealthy lipids on the brain can worsen if tactics to improve the lipid profile—such as eating a balanced diet and exercising—are not followed. “”.
The U.S. S. . According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 7 million adults 65 and older were estimated to have dementia in 2014; by 2060, that number is expected to rise to almost 14 million.
Examine the background, design, and specifics.
9,846 participants were drawn from the ASPREE study for this study. Participants were 74 years old on average, with 96 percent being white adults and 55 percent being women.
Thirteen percent of participants were from the United States, and eighty-seven percent were from Australia. A. who signed up for the ASPREE study from 2010 to 2014. Beginning in early 2024, this retrospective study—a statistical analysis of data carried out after a study has been finished and the data collected—used the ASPREE data.
At the start of the study, none of the participants had dementia. 32 percent of the participants took cholesterol-lowering drugs; however, if a participant began, stopped, or switched taking cholesterol-lowering drugs during the study period, they were not included in the analysis.
Every participant had three annual assessments of their triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol.
An expert panel examined cognitive test results, self-reported cognitive issues, medical records showing a diagnosis of dementia, or prescriptions for dementia medication to monitor for the onset of dementia in the six years following the cholesterol assessments. Participants were categorized into quartiles for this analysis according to the variations in their cholesterol levels. Cognitive decline and dementia diagnoses were compared with the highest and lowest 25% of cholesterol level variability.
The abstract includes a list of co-authors, disclosures, and funding sources.
About this news about neurology and dementia research.
Written by Karen Astle.
American Heart Association as a source.
Contact: American Heart Association’s Karen Astle.
Image: Neuroscience News is the source of the image.
