Study Finds Low LDL Cholesterol Levels May Be Linked To Reduced Risk Of Dementia
A new study published in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry found that people with low levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in their blood have a lower risk of dementia.
LDL is often known as the ‘bad cholesterol’, as too much of this clogs our blood vessels and leads to serious health problems.
This new research follows previous studies suggesting a link between cholesterol levels and dementia risk, including the recent Lancet Commission report which identified high levels of LDL cholesterol as a risk factor for dementia. Further work is now underway studying the effects that cholesterol may be having on the brain and whether this could lead to strategies to prevent dementia.
In this new research, scientists based in Korea looked at levels of LDL cholesterol and the risk of dementia in health records from over 500,000 adults. It also examined those records to identify people who were on statins, drugs commonly used to lower cholesterol levels.
Dr Julia Dudley, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK explains the findings of the study:
“It found that those people with lower LDL levels had a reduced risk of dementia. The use of statins seemed to offer a protective effect – even in those who already had cholesterol levels within a lower range.”
The researchers found that reducing LDL cholesterol to even lower levels did not reduce dementia risk further, suggesting that further lowering of cholesterol levels does not provide any further benefit.
“However, dementia risk is complex and influenced by many factors. Without a detailed picture of what’s going on in the brain we do not know if there is a direct link between lower cholesterol and reduced dementia risk. Clinical trials will be key to understand what effects statins might be having on disease processes in the brain”, Dr Dudley added.
The benefits of low levels of cholesterol for heart health is widely recognised, but less is known about cholesterol and dementia risk, therefore it is encouraging to see studies which add further to our understanding of this relationship.
With around 1 million people affected by dementia in the UK, and almost half of UK adults living with cholesterol levels higher than the national guidelines, it’s important to understand more about the link between dementia and cholesterol.
“In the meantime, keeping our hearts healthy remains one of the most effective ways we can protect our brain health. If you have any concerns about your cholesterol levels, you should speak to your GP,” advises Dr Dudley.
