Lower cholesterol now -- avoid Alzheimer's later

By Sheilah Downey

People in their 40s who have high, or even borderline, cholesterol levels have a greater risk for developing Alzheimer's disease later in life, said researchers today.

While scientists from Kaiser Permanente's Division of Research said study results are "disturbing," it also opens the doors for potentially stopping dementia in its tracks.

"Considering that nearly 100 million Americans have either high or borderline cholesterol levels, this is a disturbing finding," said senior author, Dr. Rachel Whitmer, research scientist with Kaiser. "The good news here is what is good for the heart is good for the mind, and this is an early risk factor for dementia that can be modified and managed by lowering cholesterol through healthy lifestyle changes."

The 40-year-long study looked at 9,844 men and women and found that high cholesterol levels in mid-life, a level of 240, or higher, increases the risk for Alzheimer's disease by 66 percent.

Even cholesterol levels of 200 to 239, considered borderline levels, increased vascular dementia by 52 percent. Vascular dementia, the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer's disease, affects the blood supply to the brain.

Scientists at Kaiser were joined by a team from the University of Kuopio in Finland. They measured cholesterol levels of study participants from 1964 to 1973, when they were 40 to 45 years old, and then followed them for 40 years.

The study was the largest long-term study with the most diverse population to examine midlife cholesterol levels and dementia, said researchers, and can help with addressing the risk factors for dementia before it strikes.

"Our findings add to the existing body of evidence on a degree of overlap between two dementia types in terms of risk factors, symptoms and neuropathology," said the study's lead author, Dr. Alina Solomon of the University of Kuopio. "Dementia and cardiovascular disease are common major health problems, share several risk factors and often occur simultaneously, interacting with one another.

Solomon said a holistic approach to address multiple health problems is needed to manage the disorders.

The study appears in the journal Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders.