December 1, 2023 – New research suggests that folks with unusually high levels of HDL, the so-called “good cholesterol,” could also be more more likely to develop dementia.
Very high levels of HDL cholesterol weren’t common amongst study participants and were likely related to metabolic problems reminiscent of diabetes reasonably than weight loss plan, a study found Research summary from Monash University in Australia, where research team leaders work.
With greater than 18,000 participants aged 65 and older, the study was considered one of the most important to this point analyzing the possible link between HDL cholesterol and dementia. Results of the study were published Thursday in The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific.
In the study, very high HDL levels of cholesterol were defined as over 80 mg/dL. The ideal range is often 40 to 60 mg/DL for men and 50 to 60 mg/DL for ladies.
People with levels above 80 mg/dL had a 27% increased risk of developing dementia in comparison with people within the optimal range during a median follow-up of 6.3 years. People aged 75 and over who had very high values had a 42% increased risk of dementia.
The study participants didn’t have heart disease or dementia firstly of the study. They were also excluded from participation due to a physical disability, a life-threatening illness, or existing cognitive problems.
“Although we know that HDL cholesterol is important for cardiovascular health, this study suggests that we need further research to understand the role of very high HDL cholesterol in brain health,” said lead creator Monira Hussain, MBBS, PhD, MPH, a senior research fellow on the Monash School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, in an announcement. “It may be beneficial to consider very high HDL cholesterol levels in dementia risk prediction algorithms.”
Dementia is a term that refers to a spread of cognitive problems that typically occur as people age. The commonest of those is Alzheimer's disease. Some symptoms of dementia include memory loss, language problems and difficulty with problem-solving and other considering skills severe enough to interfere with each day life, the study found Alzheimer's Association. More than 5.8 million people within the United States suffer from dementia, and that number is projected to extend to 14 million by 2060 CDC.