We know thatyo-yo dietingand frequentblood sugar roller coastersdo a number on our bodies. This week, we’re learning more about the potential health harms related to fluctuations of another health factor: cholesterol.
According to a study published July 5, 2023 in the journalNeurology,individuals who have high variability in their total cholesterol and triglyceride levels—meaning large changes throughout the lifespan—appear to be at higher risk for developing dementia later in life compared to their more steady-cholesterol peers.
Read on to learn more about how the scientists came to this conclusion, then score tips about how to keep your cholesterol levels in check—and steady on the low end.
Does Inflammation Cause High Cholesterol?
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What This Dementia Study Found
Since this is the case, researchers and doctors are hot on the case of potential risk factors for cognitive decline—and potential ways to tackle them early so we can prevent or delay as many dementia or Alzheimer’s disease diagnoses as possible. (ICYMI, Alzheimer’s is a specific form of dementia, and actually is the most common cause of dementia. Dementia is a general term of cognitive decline severe enough to significantly impact daily functioning, says theAlzheimer’s Association.)
The researchers gathered 11,571 participants with an average age of 71. Slightly more than half (54%) identified as female. At the outset of the study, none had been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
Within 5 years of the start of the study, each individual had their cholesterol measured at least three times. These tests tracked total, triglycerides, LDL and HDL—here’s a refresher onwhat these blood levels mean. For the next 13 years, the researchers followed these people; 2,473 of which developed some type of dementia.
To determine if cholesterol changes appeared to have any link with dementia risk, the scientists categorized the participants into five groups based on how much their cholesterol fluctuated between readings.
These results held true even after the researchers adjusted for other potential personal and health metrics, such as education level and baseline cholesterol.
The scientists believe this correlation may be true because cholesterol may lead to inflammation in blood vessels within the brain, which may impede the brain cells' ability to transport nutrients and “clean out the trash” (AKA waste products).
5 Habits to Break to Lower Cholesterol
The Bottom Line
A new study suggests that big changes in total cholesterol and triglycerides may be related to higher risk for dementia. The results cannot certify cause and effect, however.
More research is needed among large populations and for longer periods of time that takes into account genetic risk factors for dementia, the researchers admit. Plus, we have yet to confirm if those in the early stages of dementia might make lifestyle choices that lead to the sharp changes in their total cholesterol and triglycerides.
If this fluctuation factor and dementia risk connection holds up in future research, it’s important to keep these findings in context—and consider the potential real world implications and action steps. We know a lot about the foods that boost your"good" (HDL) cholesterol, foods that lower"bad" (LDL) cholesteroland are fairly well-versed in other ways to lower cholesterol naturally like moving more, managing stress and moderating alcohol intake. However, we don’t know much (yet) about how to reduce cholesterol and triglyceride fluctuations…besides just always keeping cholesterol levels on the low side. (Well, and HDL on the higher side.)
Until we know more, itappears pretty clearthat lower cholesterol is linked with lower risk for Alzheimer’s disease, so it certainly can’t hurt to:
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