SIGNIFICANT fluctuations in cholesterol levels, unrelated to changes in medication, may serve as an early indicator of increased dementia risk in older adults, according to a recent press release from American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2024. Researchers from Austraia and the US examined nearly 10,000 adults aged 70 and older, enrolled in the ASPREE clinical trial, and found that individuals with highly variable cholesterol levels had a higher likelihood of developing dementia or cognitive decline.
The 6-year study, which analyzed annual cholesterol measurements, revealed that participants with the highest fluctuations in total cholesterol faced a 60% increased risk of dementia and a 23% greater risk of cognitive decline. Fluctuations in LDL cholesterol were also linked to faster cognitive decline in areas like memory and reaction speed. However, variability in HDL cholesterol or triglycerides did not show similar associations with dementia or cognitive decline.
This research emphasizes the potential of using cholesterol variability as a tool to identify at-risk individuals before clinical symptoms arise. “Significant fluctuations in cholesterol levels, especially LDL cholesterol, may destabilize atherosclerotic plaques, potentially impacting brain function and accelerating cognitive decline,” said lead author Zhen Zhou, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.
Although the study cannot establish a cause-and-effect relationship, its findings suggest that reducing cholesterol variability could become a promising therapeutic strategy for preventing dementia. Researchers caution that further studies are needed to confirm these results and explore whether stabilizing cholesterol levels could reduce dementia risk.
Given that nearly 25% of U.S. adults suffer from high cholesterol, incorporating cholesterol variability into clinical practice may help physicians identify those at heightened risk for dementia, ultimately improving preventative care strategies.
Reference: American Heart Association. Unexplained changes in cholesterol may help identify older adults at risk for dementia (press release). November, 2024. Available at: https://newsroom.heart.org/news/unexplained-changes-in-cholesterol-may-help-identify-older-adults-at-risk-for-dementia. Last accessed: November 14, 2024.
