Could changes to cholesterol be a sign of dementia warning?
A new study suggests that the elderly whose cholesterol fluctuates significantly over time are more likely to develop dementia than those with stable levels.
Fluction of the risk of cholestololol and de démémie
The elderly whose cholesterol level fluctuates over time can have a higher risk of developing dementia compared to those with stable cholesterol, regardless of their real cholesterol levels. This observation comes from a study published today (January 29, 2025) NeurologyThe Medical Journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Note that the study does not prove that cholesterol changes cause dementia – only that there is a link between the two.
“These results suggest that the fluctuation of cholesterol, measured each year, could be a new biomarker to identify people at risk of dementia, providing more information than the real cholesterol rates measured at a time,” said the Author of the Zhen Zhou, Phd, Monash, Monash University of Melbourne, Australia study.
Follow cholesterol over time
The study followed 9,846 participants with an average age of 74, which were all exempt from dementia or other memory problems at the start. The researchers measured the cholesterol rate at the start of the study and for three annual follow -ups. Participants were then monitored for an average of 5.5 years after the final verification of cholesterol, with annual memory tests carried out to assess the cognitive function.
Participants taking cholesterol medication, called statins, were authorized in the study unless they stop or start taking medication during the cholesterol measurement period.
Participants were divided into four equal groups according to the amount of change between their first and fourth cholesterol measures. The difference between the consecutive annual measures was 91 mg / DL on average in the group with the largest modification of total cholesterol and 22 mg / dl in the group with the smallest amount of change.
Higher fluctuations, a higher risk of dementia
During the study, 509 people developed dementia. In total, 147 of the 2,408 people in the group with the greatest variation in dementia developed with total cholesterol, a rate of 11.3 per 1,000 years of person. In the group with the lowest modification of total cholesterol, 98 of the 2,437 people developed dementia, a rate of 7.1 per 1,000 years. The people represent both the number of people in the study and the time each person spends in the study.
After adjustment for other factors that could affect the risk of dementia, such as age, smoking status and high blood pressure, researchers found that those of the high change group were 60% more likely to develop dementia than those of change with low group change.
The study also revealed a link between the evolution of cholesterol levels and the problems of cognitive disorders or memory which did not meet the criteria of dementia.
The role of LDL vs HDL
Looking at the different types of cholesterol, the researchers found a link between fluctuating LDL cholesterol, or “bad” cholesterol, and the risk of dementia and cognitive disorders. They did not find this association with HDL, nor “good” cholesterol or triglycerides.
“The cholesterol of the elderly must be monitored for changes over time to help identify people who can be at risk of cognitive or dementia and who could benefit from interventions, which could include changes in style Life or ensure that they start or continue to take statins to prevent fluctuations in their cholesterol and potentially reduce the risk of dementia, “said Zhou.
Study of limitations and considerations
A limitation of the study is that if the people who have started or stopped taking cholesterol have not been included in the study to eliminate fluctuations induced by drugs in cholesterol, the researchers did not have any Information on changes in the dosage or people who have not taken their drugs as prescribed, which could affect changes in cholesterol.
Reference: “Association of lipid variability from one year to another with risk of cognitive decline and dementia among the elderly living in the community” by Zhen Zhou, Chris Moran, Anne M. Murray, Sophia Zoungas, Costan Magnussen , Trevor T.-J. Chong, Raj C. Shah, Kerry M. Sheets, Mark Nelson, Chao Zhu, Andrew M. Tonkin, Stella Talic, Michael E. Ernst, Suzanne G. Orchard, John J. McNeil, Rory Wolfe, Robyn L. Woods, Johannes T. Neumann, Peng Qiu and Joanne Ryan, January 29, 2025, Neurology.
DOI: 10.1212 / WNL.000000000000210247
The study is supported by the National Heart Foundation of Australia.
