Study says: Don’t forget to get that cholesterol level down

William Atkins
Tuesday, 04 August 2009 19:14

Science - Health

A new U.S. study finds that high cholesterol levels in the middle of your life can greatly increase your chances of getting dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia, later in your life.


The study of members within the healthcare provider company Kaiser Permanente, in northern California, found that high cholesterol levels—higher than 240 milligrams per deciliter (1.75 pints) of blood—gives people much greater chance of getting dementia later in life.

In fact, high cholesterol levels (over 240) in your 40s increases your risk of vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease by 66%.

In addition, slightly to moderately high cholesterol levels (200 to 239 milligrams per deciliter) in your 40s increases your risk of vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease by 52%.

The lead author of the study, U.S. epidemiologist Rachel Whitmer, stated, “The thing that struck us as most surprising was that not only was high cholesterol associated with elevated risk of developing dementia later in life, but also borderline levels of cholesterol. This is a new piece of the puzzle as we're trying to understand risk factors for dementia."

Read more about the study in the August 4, 2009 San Francisco Chronicle article “Midlife cholesterol levels linked to dementia.”

The study is published in the journal Dementia and Geriatrics Cognitive Disorders. (Its Web link seems to be broken at the time this article was published.)

Learn more about dementia at MedLinePlus. It begins: "Dementia is a word for a group of symptoms caused by disorders that affect the brain. It is not a specific disease. People with dementia may not be able to think well enough to do normal activities, such as getting dressed or eating. They may lose their ability to solve problems or control their emotions. Their personalities may change. They may become agitated or see things that are not there."