source: The Times.
Research found that taking statins may have a protective effect even for people whose cholesterol is already quite low.
High cholesterol has long been associated with poor heart health — but it may also increase your risk of getting dementia, a new study has suggested.
A team from the National Research Foundation of Korea and the Korean Neurological Association matched around 109,000 adults with high LDL cholesterol, above 130 mg/dL, with the same number of people with low LDL levels.
Significantly more individuals with high cholesterol were diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s in the six months after testing than those with lower LDL levels.
The research, published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry also found that taking statins may have a protective effect even for people whose cholesterol is already quite low.
Individuals with low levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol had a 26 per cent lower risk of being diagnosed with dementia, and those who took statins reduced that risk by 13 per cent compared with those who did not take them.
ven among those with cholesterol levels below 70 mg/dL, which GPs consider low, taking statins seemed to reduce the risk of a dementia diagnosis by an additional 13 per cent compared with those who did not take the medication. This effect disappeared when cholesterol levels dropped very low.
The LDL cholesterol causes a build-up of plaque in the blood vessels and may trigger inflammation. Over time, this can lead to blockages that disrupt blood flow, resulting in heart attacks and strokes.
Last summer, a major study showed that high cholesterol in midlife was an important risk factor for dementia. According to research commissioned by The Lancet, elevated LDL levels are responsible for about 7 per cent of all dementia cases.
Previous studies have shown that statins, which lower cholesterol levels and are already the most commonly prescribed drug in the UK, can reduce the risk of developing dementia by around 20 per cent.
Exactly how LDL cholesterol harms the brain remains unclear. “There is clearly more to the story of Alzheimer’s than we first thought said Francesco Tamagnini, a neurophysiologist at the University of Reading who was not part of the current research. “My lab has looked into the idea that damage to the blood-brain barrier can lead to accumulation of LDL cholesterol in the brain and potentially alter the electrical activity of neurons.”
Researchers in the past have pointed out that high levels of cholesterol are associated with greater brain amyloid, which is believed to be key in Alzheimer’s disease.
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“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”, said Julia Dudley, head of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK. “In the meantime, keeping our hearts healthy remains one of the most effective ways we can protect our brain health.”
About six in ten people in the UK have high cholesterol and 9.5 million Brits were dispensed a statin in 2022. But there are other ways to lower cholesterol. Cutting down on fatty foods, which are rich in saturated fats, such as sausages can help.
Adding more vegetables and foods with high fibre to your diet is also beneficial. Scientists have shown that tomatoes, almonds, avocados and oats, in particular, may help lower LDL levels. Regular physical activity, such as aerobics, can further reduce “bad” cholesterol and protect your brain health.
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