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Lowering cholesterol reduces Alzheimer's risk

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

In addition to predicting the future risk of heart disease, cholesterol testing may help individuals understand their chances of developing Alzheimer's disease. A new study published in the journal Neurology has shown that lowering cholesterol levels may reduce the risk of the cognitive condition in individuals who already have memory problems.

Researchers from the Military Medical University in Chongqing, China, studied the mental health of 837 individuals who showed signs of memory problems, half of whom also had high cholesterol or other cardio-metabolic risk factors.

The results showed that individuals who sought treatment for high cholesterol were 39 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease during the course of the five-year study than those who did not receive any treatment for their condition.

The researchers said that their findings add support to the idea that taking steps to resolve cardio-metabolic risk factors such as high cholesterol can help individuals improve many areas of their health, rather than simply benefiting their heart.

Given the fact that Alzheimer's disease affects such a large percentage of the population, the findings could have implications for millions of people.