High Cholesterol During Midlife And Risk Of Cognitive Decline

In our quest to understand and improve brain health, the old adage remains true: What’s good for the heart is good for the brain.

Managing high cholesterol is a smart thing to do to take care of your heart; but it also may be important for brain health.  The relationship between high cholesterol and risk of dementia has been relatively unclear, but a recent study sheds new light.

Researchers from Australia examined 34 research studies on high cholesterol and risk of late-life cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. The combined studies included over 23,000 participants.  They found that high total cholesterol during midlife doubled the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, and increased the risk for cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment. High cholesterol in late life was not associated with increased risk.

The good news is, research also suggests that managing high cholesterol may reduce the risk of these aging-related brain diseases, and we urge people to work with brain health specialists, like those at the NorthShore Center for Brain Health, or your Primary Care Provider, to identify and manage vascular risk factors associated with aging-related brain diseases.

To your health,

Dr. Smita Patel

Dr. Smita Patel, DO, is a neurologist at NorthShore University HealthSystem, and an integral part of NorthShore’s Center for Brain Health. Dr. Patel brings expertise in neurology and sleep along with a proficiency in complementary and integrative medicine to develop tailored health plans for her clients. She is board certified in Neurology and Sleep Medicine. Dr. Patel has participated in clinical research studies in the area of sleep medicine and has written book chapters for several academic publications on neurological disorders. She has a strong interest in researching the cause and treatment of neurological diseases as well as supporting and participating in educational programs. Dr. Patel is part of the integrated team at the Center for Brain Health at NorthShore Neurological Institute, working with patients to reduce the risk for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and other brain disorders, and to improve brain health.