Older people
who have fluctuating levels of cholesterol and triglycerides may have a higher
risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias compared to people who have
steady levels, according to new research published in the July 5, 2023, online
issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of
Neurology. While the study found a
link, it does not prove that fluctuating levels of cholesterol and
triglycerides cause dementia. “Prevention strategies for Alzheimer’s and
related dementias are urgently needed,” said study author Suzette J. Bielinski,
PhD, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
“Routine screenings for cholesterol and
triglyceride levels are commonly done as part of standard medical care.
Fluctuations in these results over time could potentially help us identify who
is at greater risk for dementia, help us understand mechanisms for the
development of dementia and ultimately determine whether leveling out these
fluctuations could play a role in reducing dementia risk.”
Researchers used health care data to
identify 11,571 people age 60 or older who did not have a prior diagnosis of
Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Researchers looked at participants’
measurements of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein
cholesterol (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) on at least
three different days in the five years before the start of the study. Then
researchers divided participants into five equal groups based on how much the
measurements fluctuated. The lowest group had the least variation over time and
the highest group had the most variation. Participants were followed for an
average of 13 years. During that time, 2,473 people developed Alzheimer’s disease
or another form of dementia.
After adjusting for variables that could
affect risk of dementia including sex, race, education and lipid-lowering
treatments, researchers found for total cholesterol, participants in the
highest group had a 19% increased risk of dementia compared to those in the
lowest group. Of the 2,311 people in the highest group, 515 developed dementia
compared to 483 of the 2,311 people in the lowest group. For triglycerides,
those in highest group had a 23% increased risk. Researchers did not find a
link between variations in LDL and HDL and an increased risk of dementia. “It
remains unclear why and how fluctuating levels of cholesterol and triglycerides
are related to the risk of Alzheimer’s disease,” said Bielinski.
“Further studies looking at the changes
over time for this relationship are needed in order to confirm our results and
potentially consider preventative strategies.” A limitation of the study was
researchers looked at Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias as a whole and
did not differentiate between the types of dementia.
Source: https://www.aan.com/PressRoom/Home/PressRelease/5098
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