Exploring the Connection Between ‘Good’ Cholesterol and Dementia: Latest Research Findings

A recent study challenges the widely held belief that “good cholesterol” is beneficial for our health. The study, published in the journal Neurology, suggests that high or low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) could actually increase the risk of dementia in older individuals.

To conduct the study, researchers followed over 180,000 California residents for approximately two years starting between 2002 and 2007. They then continued tracking the group using medical records for an average of nine years. The participants in the study are now around 70 years old.

Study author Maria Glymour explained the significance of their research, saying, “Previous studies on this topic have been inconclusive, and this study is especially informative due to its large sample size and long follow-up period. We were able to examine the links between cholesterol levels and dementia risk across a wide range of levels, including both high and low levels of HDL cholesterol.”

During the study period, about 25,000 individuals developed dementia.

The study found that individuals with the highest levels of HDL cholesterol had a 15 percent higher rate of dementia compared to those in the middle group. Similarly, those with the lowest levels of HDL cholesterol had a 7 percent higher rate of dementia. The recommended “healthy” HDL amount is 40 mg/dL in the blood, while the study subjects had an average of about 54 mg/dL.

In contrast, the study found that LDL cholesterol, often referred to as “bad cholesterol,” did not significantly affect the risk of dementia.

While the research revealed unexpected findings regarding the relationship between HDL cholesterol and dementia, Glymour emphasized that the increases in risk were small and the clinical significance remains uncertain. She also pointed out that there was no association between LDL cholesterol and dementia risk in the overall study cohort. Glymour stated, “Our results add to the existing evidence that HDL cholesterol has similarly complex associations with dementia as it does with heart disease and cancer.”

This new study follows the results of another study published in July, which found that individuals with fluctuating cholesterol levels over time are also at a higher risk of dementia. That study, also published in Neurology, reported a 19 percent higher risk of dementia for those with the most fluctuating cholesterol levels.

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