Reducing your bad cholesterol levels might considerably lower your chances of developing dementia, according to recent studies.
In the previous year, a group of global dementia specialists stated that elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), often known as "bad" cholesterol, pose a risk for developing dementia.
However, this new research, involving almost 109,000 individuals, provides a more precise understanding of just how robust that connection is.
Individuals with reduced LDL cholesterol levels exhibited a 26 percent decrease in the risk of developing dementia, and an even more notable 28 percent reduction in the specific likelihood of contracting Alzheimer’s disease. according to the study , which was released on Tuesday in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.
The research discovered that taking statins, medications that aid in reducing cholesterol levels and decreasing the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes, offered "extra protective benefits."
Individuals with reduced LDL cholesterol levels who used statin medications showed an 13 percent decreased chance of developing dementia when compared to those not using these drugs.
There are two kinds of cholesterol: LDL cholesterol aids in forming accumulations of fat deposits within your arteries, thereby increasing the likelihood of cardiovascular issues. On the other hand, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), commonly referred to as "good" cholesterol, removes LDL cholesterol from the arteries and transports it back to the liver for breakdown.
In the research, the decrease in dementia risk was most noticeable among individuals whose LDL cholesterol levels were under 70 mg/dL. Those with extremely low levels—below 30 mg/dL—did not experience additional risk reduction.
The research indicates that assisting individuals in controlling their cholesterol levels might serve as an effective method to decelerate or halt the progression of dementia, say researchers affiliated with multiple universities in South Korea.
"The findings provide a compelling reason for researchers to take into account LDL cholesterol alongside traditional methods," stated Dr. Francesco Tamagnini, a neurophysiologist from the University of Reading in the UK and not part of this research effort, in an official release.
Search for answers on dementia continues
Globally, approximately 57 million individuals are affected by dementia, a figure anticipated to multiply threefold by 2050. Nevertheless, specialists think that around half of dementia cases might face delays or could potentially be stopped entirely.
So far, a significant portion of dementia research has concentrated on unusual accumulations of amyloid beta proteins in the brain, which are typical markers for Alzheimer’s disease—the most prevalent type of dementia.
"There is evidently more to the Alzheimer's narrative than what we initially believed," Tamagnini stated.
It's premature to conclude that LDL cholesterol directly leads to dementia. This study does come with certain constraints; notably, it reviewed individuals' medical records retrospectively. As such, various other elements might have influenced the connection observed between reduced LDL cholesterol levels and the likelihood of developing dementia.
"Dementia risk involves multiple elements and is shaped by various influences," stated Dr. Julia Dudley, who heads up research efforts at Alzheimer’s Research UK, in an official release.
“We cannot determine if there is a direct connection between lowered cholesterol levels and decreased dementia risk without a comprehensive understanding of what’s happening in the brain,” she explained.
The following step involves researchers conducting clinical trials to determine if statins, which reduce LDL cholesterol, might aid in slowing down the disease’s progression.
“Meanwhile, maintaining a healthy heart continues to be one of the best methods for safeguarding our cognitive well-being,” Dudley stated.