Publication
Article
Hypercholesterolemia Linked to
Decreased Dementia Risk
Hypercholesterolemia in elderly persons is associated with a decreased risk of dementia.
Neuropsychiatric, laboratory, and other assessments were conducted for 392 persons
aged 70 years at baseline who were followed for up to 18 years. Increasing cholesterol
levels at ages 70, 75, and 79 (hazard ratios, 0.77, 0.70, and 0.75, respectively) correlated
with a decreased risk of dementia between ages 79 and 88. Analysis of cholesterol levels
in quartiles revealed that the risk reduction occurred only among the highest quartiles
at ages 70, 75, and 79. Triglyceride levels did not affect risk of dementia (Neurology.
2005;64:1689-1695).