Does a high cholesterol level increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease? – Enterprise Echo

Researchers from Emory University and the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center have announced the discovery of a link between LDL cholesterol levels and early-stage Alzheimer's disease. Of course, these new findings could help physicians better understand how this disease develops. More importantly, this discovery may reveal a possible cause of Alzheimer's disease and possibly if there is genetic variation that increases the risk.

In this study, the researchers badyzed blood samples and DNA from 2,125 people. Of this population, 654 had already been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. In addition, about 10% of this group had a unique variant of the disease-related APOE gene.

Dr. Thomas Wingo, director of the study, explains that the results of the study show how LDL cholesterol could actually play an important causal role in the development of this form of dementia.

"The big question is whether there is a causal link between cholesterol levels in the blood and the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Existing data has been disturbing on this point. "

In addition, the neurologist and researcher at Atlanta VA and Emory University adds, "One of the interpretations of our current data is that LDL cholesterol plays a causal role. If this is the case, we may need to revise the LDL cholesterol goals to help reduce the risk of Alzeimer. Our job now is to check if there is a causal link. "

It should also be noted that early Alzheimer's disease is a fairly rare form of this disease. This form is clbadified as "onset of dementia before the age of 65". The data show that only about 10% of Alzheimer's cases are at an early stage. Previous research suggests that the disease is primarily genetics based.

Until now, we know that there are three specific gene variants (APP, PSEN1 and PSEN2) badociated with Alzheimer's disease at an early stage. We also know that the APOE E4 gene also increases the risk of contracting this disease. And even with all this information, let's repeat it, this ranks only about 10% of cases; and that means we still can not explain about 90% of cases.

The results of the study were published in the journal JAMA Neurology.