Hypercholesterolemia Linked to Decreased Dementia Risk

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).