High Cholesterol Levels Could Increase Alzheimer’s Risk [Study]

Researchers recently tested the cholesterol levels in 147 patients and found that people with high cholesterol levels are more likely to have the type of brain plaque that often leads to Alzheimer’s disease.

The research, published in medical journal Neurology suggests that lowering cholesterol levels early in life can help slow or stop the presence of Alzheimer’s.

Kensuke Sasaki, the study’s lead author told Bloomberg:

“Our study clearly makes the point that high cholesterol may contribute directly or indirectly to plaques in the brain,” while adding, “The management of cholesterol levels early on may lead to preventing Alzheimer’s disease later.”

Researchers asked for permission to autopsy 2,587 adults aged 40 to 79 and in the 147 patients they examined 86% of those with high cholesterol had brain plaques, that number is compared to just 62 percent of those people with low cholesterol.

The study is currently being funded by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science along with the country’s health ministry. Scientists say they will continue to collect data in the hopes of finding more information needed to aid the research community.

The study does not attempt to suggest if changing a person’s high cholesterol levels will aid in slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s in patients diagnosed with early onset dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease currently inflicts 36 million people worldwide.