Your cholesterol levels could affect your future brain health, not just your heart health
Close up view of unrecognizable mature woman taking a pill. She has a pill in one hand and a glass of water in the other.
A common heart drug could have protective effects against dementia, a new study suggests(Image: Getty Images)
Drugs that lower levels of "bad" cholesterol have been linked to a reduced risk of dementia, new research has revealed.
High cholesterol, when you have too much of a fatty substance in your blood, doesn't show obvious symptoms but can have devastating health consequences, increasing your risk of heart attack or stroke.
There are two types of cholesterol: LDL, known as "bad" cholesterol, and HDL, the "good" kind. A number of factors can increase your risk of high cholesterol, including genetics, body weight, and inflammation.
Statins are a group of medicines that can help lower levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood. They are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the UK, with around seven to eight million people taking them to cut their chance of cardiovascular disease.
Now, a new study has revealed they could have more benefits. Scientists found that people who have low levels of "bad" cholesterol in their blood have a reduced risk of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease – and that statins had "additional protective effects".
Statins are a group of medicines that can help to lower the risk of heart attack and stroke
Statins are a group of medicines that can help to lower the risk of heart attack and stroke(Image: PA)
The researchers said their findings "underscore the crucial role of managing LDL- C in lowering dementia risk".
"These findings emphasise the importance of targeted LDL- C management as part of dementia prevention strategies, with potential integration into clinical guidelines," the authors wrote in the study.
"The results support the use of statin therapy within specific LDL- C ranges for both cardiovascular and cognitive health benefits," they added.
Commenting on the study, Dr Julia Dudley, head of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “This large study looked at patient records for levels of LDL cholesterol and the risk of dementia, it also examined those patients who were on statins. It found that those people with lower LDL levels had a reduced risk of dementia. The use of statins seemed to offer a protective effect – even in those who already had cholesterol levels within a lower range.
“However, dementia risk is complex and influenced by many factors. 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. Clinical trials will be key to understand what effects statins might be having on disease processes in the brain.
“In the meantime, keeping our hearts healthy remains one of the most effective ways we can protect our brain health. If you have any concerns about your cholesterol levels, you should speak to your GP.”
A generic pack of statins with a stethoscope.
Experts say more research is needed to understand whether statins can help protect the brain(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
The researchers analysed data from 11 university hospitals in South Korea from more than 570,000 adults without dementia, who were categorised into high LDL and low LDL groups.
After six months or more, the people with low LDL were 26 per cent less likely to be diagnosed with any type of dementia, and 28 per cent less likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, compared to those in the high LDL group.
However, adults with very low LDL, were only 18 per cent less likely to develop dementia and those with extremely low LDL levels had the same dementia risk as the high LDL group – suggesting lower isn't necessarily better when it comes to cholesterol and brain health.
Dr Richard Oakley from the Alzheimer’s Society added: “Dementia risk is complicated and determined by several factors including genetics, lifestyle, and the environment.
“This study adds to our understanding by showing the strong connection between heart and brain health. Simply put, what is good for the heart is good for the head.”
He added: “This is an ever-evolving topic, and more targeted research and trials are needed to understand whether statins can help protect the brain. However, it is crucial to talk to your GP before making any changes to your medication”.
The study was published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.