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Keeping your heart and brain in tip-top shape is critical for a long, healthy life. That’s not surprising, considering heart disease is theNo. 1 cause of death in Americaand Alzheimer’s disease, themost common type of dementia, ranks at No. 7. While several dementia risk factors—such as age, genetics andfamily history—are not modifiable, research shows there are several other dementia risk factors within your control.
Healthy lifestyle habits can improve biomarkers associated with an increased risk of chronic illness, including heart disease, diabetes and dementia. Some of these biomarkers include your cholesterol levels. According to a new study published on November 12, 2022, inScientific Reports, having high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (often referred to as the “bad” cholesterol) is linked to an increased risk of all types of dementia.
What You Need to Know About Your Cholesterol Levels
Keep reading to learn more about the findings and the link between heart health and dementia. Plus, we’ll give helpful lifestyle tips for you to support your heart and brain health whilereducing your dementia risk.
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What the Research Says
These findings resulted from a nationwide, population-based cohort study that explored the link between cholesterol levels and dementia risk, including vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, in the presence of diabetes and statin use. Researchers examined datasets from the Korean National Health Insurance Services that included a staggering 6,883,494 individuals aged 40 and older who underwent health examinations in 2009. During an eight-year follow-up period, researchers detected 263,185 dementia cases—nearly 4% of the cohort. Among the study participants, those with high LDL cholesterol levels had the highest risk of all-cause dementia, regardless of whether they had diabetes or not.
Anja Wagner, MD, FACC, a cardiovascular disease specialist with Hartford HealthCare Heart & Vascular Institute atSt. Vincent’s Medical Center, tells EatingWell, “It’s assumed that high cholesterol levels (hypercholesterolemia) increase the risk of dementia. The association is present for both vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, although the magnitude of risk is higher for vascular dementia.”
Additionally, the researchers noted that the study participants who used statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs) were more likely to develop dementia. Whether it’s type 1 or type 2, several other studies have found that diabetes is associated with asignificantly increased dementia risklater in life. “High levels of insulin resistance cause type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance in the body has been linked to a decline in cognitive function and an increased risk of dementia,” explainsErin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDCES, registered dietitian and diabetes educator.
Tips for Boosting Your Heart and Brain Health
Fortunately, improving your cholesterol levels and reducing your risks of dementia and diabetes are within your control. And adopting healthy lifestyle habits can slash your odds of developing dementia later in life. To help guide you, The American Heart Association (AHA) createdLife’s Essential 8, a checklist for good lifelong health that reduces your risk of chronic illness, includingheart disease, dementia and diabetes.
Consider implementing the following habits into your daily life to boost your heart and brain health:
In addition to AHA’s recommendations, Palinski-Wade recommendsadding more fiber to your diet. “To add more fiber to your diet, include foods such as whole fruits and vegetables, beans and legumes, nuts and seeds and whole grains,” advises Palinski-Wade. “These foods will help lower LDL cholesterol while promoting blood sugar balance and reduced visceral fat levels—all factors that will improve heart and brain health.”
The Bottom Line
Read This Next:7 Sneaky Lifestyle Habits That Could Increase Your Dementia Risk
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