Fluctuating Cholesterol May Raise Dementia Risk by 60%

When it comes to taking care of your cognitive health, it’s good to remember that what’s good for your heart is good for your brain. That’s why eating patterns like the MIND diet and DASH diet can be nourishing for both your brain and your heart.

Unfortunately, the opposite is also true—what’s bad for your heart may contribute to cognitive decline as you age. A recent study published in Neurology suggests that changes in cholesterol levels over time, rather than just high cholesterol itself, could increase dementia risk in older adults by up to 60%. Keep reading to uncover more about this study’s findings and what they could mean for your brain health.

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What Did the Study Find?

Researchers at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, followed nearly 10,000 adults with an average age of 74 who didn’t have dementia at the start of the study. The researchers measured the participants’ cholesterol levels at the beginning of the study and again at three subsequent annual visits, monitoring their memory skills for five and a half years. The results revealed a strong correlation between fluctuating cholesterol levels and increased dementia risk.

The participants were divided into four groups based on how much their cholesterol levels changed over the study period. The group with the most significant changes in cholesterol saw an average change of 91 mg/dL between consecutive years, while the group with the least change saw a much smaller difference of 22 mg/dL.

During the follow-up period, 509 participants developed dementia. Of the group with the largest cholesterol fluctuations, 147 of the 2,408 individuals developed dementia, corresponding to a rate of 11.3 per 1,000 person-years, which represents the number of people in the study and the amount of time each individual spent in the study. In contrast, 98 of the 2,437 people in the group with the smallest fluctuations developed dementia, which equates to a rate of 7.1 per 1,000 person-years.

After adjusting for other known dementia risk factors such as age, smoking and high blood pressure, the research team found that those in the group with the most significant cholesterol changes were 60% more likely to develop dementia compared to those with minor fluctuations.

“These results suggest that fluctuating cholesterol, measured annually, may be a new biomarker for identifying people at risk of dementia, providing more information than the actual cholesterol levels measured at a single time point,” said lead study author Zhen Zhou, PhD, of Monash University, in a press release.

The study also examined the relationship between different types of cholesterol—including LDL (or “bad”) cholesterol, HDL (or “good”) cholesterol and triglycerides—and dementia risk. Fluctuating LDL cholesterol levels were linked to an increased risk of dementia and cognitive impairment. However, the researchers didn’t observe any similar association with HDL cholesterol or triglycerides.

“Older people’s cholesterol should be monitored for changes over time to help identify people who may be at risk of cognitive impairment or dementia and could benefit from interventions, which could include lifestyle changes or making sure they start or keep taking statin to prevent fluctuations in their cholesterol and potentially reduce the risk of dementia,” explained Zhou.

The Bottom Line

A new study published in Neurology found that changing cholesterol levels, especially “bad” LDL cholesterol, can raise dementia risk by up to 60% in older adults. Monitoring your cholesterol levels and keeping them in check can help reduce your dementia risk. These findings highlight the critical importance of maintaining cardiovascular health in preserving cognitive function as you age. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any questions regarding your cholesterol, brain health, or cardiovascular well-being.