Summary: Recent research suggests that older individuals with higher triglyceride levels may have a reduced risk of developing dementia. A study conducted on over 18,000 seniors without prior dementia diagnoses found that those with elevated triglyceride concentrations had a lower incidence of dementia compared to those with lower levels. While the link between triglycerides and dementia prevention is not confirmed, triglyceride levels could potentially serve as a predictor of dementia risk.
Key Facts:
- Triglycerides, which make up the majority of dietary fats, are the brain’s primary energy source.
- Each doubling of triglyceride levels was associated with an 18% decreased risk of developing dementia.
- The study’s results, based on data from over 18,000 participants, were validated using an additional dataset of 68,200 older individuals from the U.K.
Source: AAN
According to a study published in Neurology on October 25, 2023, older individuals with higher triglyceride levels may have a lower risk of dementia and experience a slower cognitive decline over time compared to those with lower levels.
Although this study establishes a connection, it does not provide conclusive evidence that higher triglyceride levels prevent dementia.
Triglycerides are a type of fatty acid that represents the most common form of fat found in the bloodstream. Triglycerides contribute to 95% of the brain’s dietary fats, which serves as its primary energy source.
“Higher triglyceride levels may indicate better overall health and lifestyle behaviors that protect against dementia,” said study author Zhen Zhou, PhD, from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.
“Our findings suggest that triglyceride levels can serve as a valuable predictor for dementia risk and cognitive decline in older populations.”
Healthcare data was used by researchers to identify 18,294 people in one cohort, with an average age of 75, who had not been previously diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.
During the study’s average six-year follow-up period, 823 individuals developed dementia.
Every year, participants’ measurements of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) were recorded for analysis.
Based on fasting triglyceride levels, the participants were divided into four groups. The total average triglyceride level for the entire group was 106 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), with a normal triglyceride level for adults being below 150 mg/dL.
After adjusting for potential risk factors including education and cholesterol-lowering treatments, researchers discovered that each doubling of triglyceride levels was associated with an 18% lower risk of developing dementia.
The first group had triglyceride levels below 62 mg/dL, the second group had levels ranging from 63 to 106 mg/dL, the third group had levels ranging from 107 to 186 mg/dL, and the fourth group had levels of 187 mg/dL or higher. In comparison to the first group, the second group had a 15% lower likelihood of developing dementia, the third group had a 24% lower likelihood, and the fourth group had a 36% lower likelihood.
Out of the 1,416 individuals in the first group, 82 (6%) developed dementia. In the second group, which consisted of 7,449 individuals, 358 (5%) developed dementia. The third group, with 7,312 participants, had 310 (4%) cases of dementia, while the fourth group, which had 2,117 individuals, had 73 (3%) cases of dementia.
The researchers also validated their results using a dataset of 68,200 older individuals from the U.K. In this group, 2,778 people developed dementia over an average period of 12 years. This dataset yielded consistent results, indicating a 17% reduced risk of dementia for each doubling of triglyceride levels.
Additionally, the study found that higher triglyceride levels were associated with a slower decline in composite cognition, which encompasses global function, psychomotor speed, language, executive function, and memory, over time.
“Further studies are necessary to investigate whether specific components within triglycerides can promote better cognitive function, with the goal of developing new preventive strategies,” said Zhou.
A limitation of the study was that it only included individuals aged 65 and older who had no initial cognitive issues, making the findings non-generalizable to other populations.
Funding: The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and HCF Research Foundation supported this study.
About this dementia research news
Author: Natalie Conrad
Source: AAN
Contact: Natalie Conrad – AAN
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: The findings will appear in Neurology
