NEW research has reinforced the protective role of low low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in reducing the risk of dementia, offering key insights into the cognitive benefits of lipid management and statin therapy.
Using data from 11 university hospitals within the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model, researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study to assess dementia risk in individuals with varying LDL-C levels. After excluding those with prior dementia diagnoses, short observation periods, or cohort overlap, a 1:1 propensity score matching approach was used to compare patients with LDL-C levels <70 mg/dL (1.8 mmol/L) against those with levels >130 mg/dL (3.4 mmol/L). This yielded a primary analysis group of 108,980 matched individuals. Secondary analyses further evaluated thresholds <55 mg/dL (1.4 mmol/L) and the role of statin use.
LDL-C levels <70 mg/dL were associated with a 26% reduction in the risk of all-cause dementia and a 28% reduction in Alzheimer, compared to higher levels >130 mg/dL. At even lower thresholds, individuals with LDL-C <55 mg/dL experienced an 18% risk reduction for both dementia outcomes. Importantly, among those with LDL-C <70 mg/dL, statin use was linked to an additional 13% decrease in all-cause dementia risk and a 12% reduction in Alzheimer’s disease-related dementia risk when compared with non-users.
These findings highlight the potential of intensive lipid-lowering strategies in mitigating dementia risk, suggesting that personalised lipid management, including statin therapy, may be an effective component of cognitive health prevention plans.
Reference
Lee M et al. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and risk of incident dementia: a distributed network analysis using common data models. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2025; DOI:10.1136/jnnp-2024-334708.
