A groundbreaking new study has revealed that fluctuating cholesterol levels, which aren’t due to medication, could predict a dementia diagnosis up to six years earlier than usual.
The research is offering hope to older people eager to arm themselves against dementia with early detection and treatment.
The initial findings were presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions in Chicago this month, following the tracking of nearly 10,000 adults in their 70s across Australia and the US.
Regular cholesterol checks showed that those with stable levels were much less likely to be diagnosed with dementia or show general cognitive decline.
Conversely, individuals with varying levels year on year, especially if there were no lifestyle or medication changes to explain this, were more at risk of developing the disease. Dr Zhen Zhou of Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, who led the study, urged those with fluctuating levels to be closely monitored and proactive interventions implemented in light of these results.
Over a six-year follow-up period, those who fell into the top 25% for high cholesterol fluctuations were found to be up to 60% more likely to receive a dementia diagnosis, and had a 23% higher chance of experiencing cognitive decline.
The study also revealed that participants with consistently elevated levels of LDL cholesterol experienced a quicker deterioration in cognitive health and memory.
Interestingly, high levels of HDL cholesterol, often referred to as ‘good cholesterol’, were not linked to dementia or cognitive decline in this particular study. Previous research has shown that HDL cholesterol can help protect against heart disease.
The researchers expressed their hope that their findings would encourage regular cholesterol checks for older individuals, helping to identify those at greater risk of dementia and enabling earlier treatment.
However, they acknowledged that their study was observational and did not provide clear answers as to why these cholesterol fluctuations could be linked to dementia.
They also admitted that their research had limitations, given that the demographic of the study’s participants was 96% white adults.