Lowering levels of bad cholesterol could cut your risk of dementia by 26%, new study claims
Lowering your levels of bad cholesterol could significantly curb your risk of dementia, new research suggests.
Last year, an international panel of dementia experts said that high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol – commonly referred to as 'bad' cholesterol – are a risk factor for dementia.
But the new study, which included nearly 109,000 people, offers a clearer picture of exactly how strong that link is.
People with lower LDL cholesterol levels had a 26 per cent lower risk of dementia, and a 28 per cent lower risk of Alzheimer's disease specifically, according to the study, which was published on Tuesday in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.
Taking statins, which help lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, provided 'additional protective effects,' the study found.
Related
EU regulators block new Alzheimer's drug citing potentially fatal side effects
People with low LDL cholesterol levels who took statins had a 13 per cent lower risk of dementia compared with those who did not take them.
There are two types of cholesterol: LDL cholesterol contributes to buildups of fatty deposits in the arteries, raising the risk of heart problems. Meanwhile high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which is often called 'good' cholesterol, clears LDL cholesterol from the arteries and brings it back to the liver, where it can be broken down.
In the study, the reduction in dementia risk was most apparent for people with LDL cholesterol levels below 70 mg/dL. People with very low levels - below 30 mg/dL - did not see an added risk reduction.
The findings suggest that helping people manage their cholesterol could be an effective way to slow down or prevent dementia, according to the researchers from several universities in South Korea.
Related
How to lower your dementia risk as cases expected to rise by 2060
'The results give a convincing argument for researchers to consider LDL cholesterol in addition to the classic approaches,' Dr Francesco Tamagnini, a neurophysiologist at the University of Reading in the UK who was not involved with the study, said in a statement.
Dementia affects an estimated 57 million people worldwide, a number that is expected to triple by 2050. However, experts believe that about half of dementia cases could be delayed or prevented altogether.
To date, much dementia research has focused on abnormal amyloid beta plaques, which are build-ups of protein in the brain and characteristic of Alzheimer's, the most common form of dementia.
'There is clearly more to the story of Alzheimer's than we first thought,' Tamagnini said.
Related
Experimental drug may slow dementia onset for patients with rare genetic form of Alzheimer's
It's too soon to say that LDL cholesterol actually causes dementia. The study has some limitations, including the fact that it tracked people's health data retroactively, meaning other factors may have played a role in the link between lower LDL cholesterol levels and dementia risk.
'Dementia risk is complex and influenced by many factors,' Dr Julia Dudley, who leads research at Alzheimer's Research UK, said in a statement.
Related
Eating too much red meat linked to an increased risk of dementia and cognitive decline
'Without a detailed picture of what's going on in the brain we do not know if there is a direct link between lower cholesterol and reduced dementia risk,' she added.
The next step is for researchers to do clinical trials that test whether statins to lower LDL cholesterol could help slow the disease progression.
'In the meantime, keeping our hearts healthy remains one of the most effective ways we can protect our brain health,' Dudley said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Entrepreneur
11 hours ago
- Entrepreneur
Entrepreneur UK's London 100: Mamedica
Mamedica is a private clinic with a linked pharmacy specialising in cannabis-based prescriptions (from oil to cannabis flower) Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur United Kingdom, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Industry: Health and wellness Mamedica is a private clinic with a linked pharmacy specialising in cannabis-based prescriptions (from oil to cannabis flower). In the last year alone, they experienced a 2,000% revenue increase and a 675,000% growth since inception in their patient base, reflecting the urgent need for alternative treatments. Founded by Jon Robson, and launched in 2022, Mamedica aims to deliver a quality of service which is currently lacking in the medical cannabis sector. Mamedica puts patient safety, security, and satisfaction at the forefront of every activity, using only the most high-calibre consultants and support staff as part of their team. Following a secure, private video consultation the medicines can be delivered directly to the patient's door via next-day delivery service. All medications prescribed by Mamedica are produced and manufactured according to the pharmaceutical-grade EU-GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice), the most stringent in the world. Patients can be assured that their medicines are not contaminated with pesticides or adulterants. The medical cannabis market currently has north of 50,000 patients in the market - expected to rise to 300,000 plus by 2028. The UK's medical cannabis market was valued at approximately £188m in 2023 and is projected to exceed £470m by 2027. Around 60% of their patients seek treatment for psychological or neurological conditions, while 40% present with pain-related issues. The most common conditions they support include anxiety (21%), depression (13%), chronic pain (12%), back and neck pain (10%), and ADHD (10%).
Newsweek
12 hours ago
- Newsweek
Scientists Map How Alzheimer's Begins in the Brain
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. In an unprecedented large-scale study, researchers have mapped out the first molecular events that cause harmful protein buildups in the brain of people with Alzheimer's disease. "By measuring the effects of over 140,000 different versions of proteins, we have created the first comprehensive map of how individual mutations alter the energy landscape of amyloid beta aggregation—a process central to the development of Alzheimer's disease," said paper author and computational biologist Anna Arutyunyan of the Wellcome Sanger Institute in a statement. "Our data-driven model offers the first high-resolution view of the reaction's transition state, opening the door to more targeted strategies for therapeutic intervention," Arutyunyan added. The Alzheimer's Association estimates that some 7.2 million Americans aged 65 and older are presently living with the disease. Its first outward symptom is typically memory problems, but it can lead to delusions, speech issues, disturbed sleep and mood swings. Artist's impression of amyloid-beta peptide buildups within the brain. Artist's impression of amyloid-beta peptide buildups within the brain. selvanegra/iStock / Getty Images Plus At the heart of more than 50 different neurodegenerative diseases is the molecule amyloid beta. This peptide (a chain of amino acids) has a tendency to clump together, forming structures known as amyloid fibrils. In turn, these fibrils gather together into so-called "plaques"—which play a central role in the progression of Alzheimer's disease. The transition from free-flowing amyloid beta to stable fibril structures requires a certain amount of energy—with the peptides having to pass through a "transition state." This state is extremely unlikely to form, accounting for why fibrils and plaques never form in most people. It is also extremely short-lived, which helps account for how difficult it is to study how amyloid beta starts aggregating. Nevertheless, understanding these molecular structures and reactions will be vital for the future development of therapies against Alzheimer's and similar conditions. In the new study, Arutyunyan and colleagues probed the amyloid beta transition by exploring how changing the genetics of the peptide affects its aggregation rate. The team focused on Aβ42, a form of the amyloid beta with 42 amino acids that is commonly found in people with Alzheimer's disease. The researchers used three techniques in their work. First, "massively parallel sequencing" allowed the team to see how changing the amino acids in Aβ42 affects the amount of energy needed to form a fibril. Next, they used genetically engineered yeast cells to measure the rate of the aggregation reaction. Finally, the team used machine learning tools to analyze the results and map out the effect of all the possible mutations of the peptide on fibril formation. In total, the team were able to assess more than 140,000 versions of Aβ42 in one pop—a breakthrough in scale that boosts the accuracy of the resulting models. Read more Map shows states where risk of dementia is highest—are you living in one? Map shows states where risk of dementia is highest—are you living in one? The analysis revealed that only a very few specific interactions between parts of the amyloid beta peptide strongly influenced the rate of fibril formation. Furthermore, the team found that the aggregation reaction begins at one of the tightly packed, water-repellent ends of the peptide, which is known as the C-terminal region. Accordingly, the researchers hope that targeting interactions in this region might allow new means to protect against and treat Alzheimer's disease. "The approach we used in this study opens the door to revealing the structures of other protein transition states, including those implicated in other neurodegenerative diseases," said genomicist professor Ben Lehner, also of the Wellcome Sanger Institute, in a statement. "The scale at which we analyzed the amyloid peptides was unprecedented … we have shown it's a powerful new method to take forward. "We hope this takes us one step closer to developing treatments against Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions," Lehner added. Do you have a tip on a health story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about Alzheimer's disease? Let us know via health@ Reference Arutyunyan, A., Seuma, M., Faure, A. J., Bolognesi, B., & Lehner, B. (2025). Massively parallel genetic perturbation suggests the energetic structure of an amyloid-β transition state. Science Advances, 11 (24).
Indianapolis Star
12 hours ago
- Indianapolis Star
NeuroEM Therapeutics(R) Closes Initial Rounds in $5 Million Equity Raise to Commercialize Drug-free Alzheimer's Treatment
TAMPA, FL / ACCESS Newswire NeuroEM Therapeutics ®, an award-winning clinical-stage biotechnology research company pioneering the use of radio frequencies to reverse Alzheimer's disease, has closed initial rounds totaling $1.33 million of a $5 million equity raise with The Series A round supports continued progress toward commercialization of NeuroEM's Transcranial Electromagnetic Treatment (TEMT-RF) to prevent and treat cognitive decline caused by aging or Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. 'BlueLake's support demonstrates the importance of maintaining our momentum in the execution of key clinical, regulatory, and commercial milestones on our journey toward a safe, effective, drug-free treatment for Alzheimer's dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases,' says Chuck Papageorgiou, CEO of NeuroEM Therapeutics. 'It fuels the tireless efforts of our researchers, clinicians, engineers, and the entire NeuroEM team to restore the hope and dignity Alzheimer's disease has already stolen from millions and to one day prevent millions more from facing this devastating diagnosis.' The equity round is led by BlueLake Partner Jamie Rutledge, who also joins the NeuroEM Board of Directors. Rutledge focuses on early-stage investments in breakthrough technologies at BlueLake and is a seasoned technology investor and executive with deep expertise in strategic investment and innovation across the medical technology and consumer electronics sectors. He brings over 25 years of experience to NeuroEM, including senior leadership roles at Dyson and Lenovo. He previously led Lenovo's Strategic Venture Capital and Open Innovation initiatives and directed technology scouting and strategic investments at Dyson. 'NeuroEM's pioneering, non-invasive approach to treating and preventing Alzheimer's represents exactly the kind of patented, deep tech innovation we champion at BlueLake – transformative, defensible, and grounded in scientific rigor. This approach to drug-free treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's holds tremendous promise in tackling a disease that has eluded effective solutions for decades,' said Rutledge. 'We're proud to support the advancement of this groundbreaking technology, and I'm personally honored to help guide NeuroEM as it brings innovative, non-invasive therapies to the forefront of neurodegenerative care.' Adds Papageorgiou, 'Jamie's background in radio frequency systems, embedded devices, and product development aligns closely with our core technology, and his strategic insight will be a valuable asset as NeuroEM moves toward commercialization and broader market engagement.' NeuroEM Therapeutics, a member of StartUp Health's Alzheimer's Moonshot Community ™, is committed to developing, clinically testing, and marketing its multi-patented TEMT-RF technologies that target and reduce cognitive decline and restore immune balance in the brain and blood while boosting energy production in brain cells – critical elements for optimal cognitive function. Early studies have demonstrated that, as an Alzheimer's treatment, TEMT-RF is safe, enhances cognitive function, and may potentially modify the disease itself. The company's first commercial product, a lightweight cap designed for at-home use, is currently under development and has shown extraordinary promise in preclinical and clinical studies. Worn for an hour twice daily, the device uses short pulses of energy in specific ultra-high frequencies to deliver a transcranial electromagnetic treatment that improves key physical factors in the brain at the root of cognitive decline. BlueLake Ventures invests in applied deep tech for the future of work and health, technology defined by significant barriers to entry, such as strong patent protection or specialized domain expertise. Its team consists of experienced operators who have built and scaled startup companies, held executive positions in multi-national corporations, built partnerships between startups and corporations, and deployed strategic venture capital in technology-driven businesses. By leveraging its expertise, resources, and networks, BlueLake aims to accelerate the growth of deep tech innovations that empower both businesses and consumers. About NeuroEM Therapeutics ® NeuroEM Therapeutics is leading the way in the development and clinical testing of bioengineered technology to reverse the cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. Built upon a decade of groundbreaking research conducted at Tampa-based research facilities at the University of South Florida (USF), the company received the first Breakthrough Device status from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat Alzheimer's disease. NeuroEM's continued dedication to cutting-edge research is bringing to market a first-in-class wearable device designed for in-home use to extend healthy longevity using patented Transcranial Electromagnetic Treatment leveraging Radio Frequencies (TEMT-RF) technology. To learn more, visit Media Contact: Liz Goar NPC Creative Services liz@ SOURCE: NeuroEM Therapeutics View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
