Link Between High Cholesterol at Midlife and Dementia Later in Life

Do you have high cholesterol? Are you middle aged? If you answered yes, you may be at increased risk of developing dementia later in life, according to a new study in Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders (original study).

Nine thousand people from age 40 to 45 were followed for 30 years, until they reached late adulthood. The findings were surprising: borderline high and high cholesterol levels in the participants’ forties were associated with a 50% and 26% increase in risk for developing dementia, respectively.

Previous studies of this relationship did not find a connection, but one former study found that the presence of several cardiovascular risk factors, including high cholesterol, did influence the risk for Alzheimer’s disease.

This study demonstrates one more reason you should take the necessary steps to control your cholesterol throughout your lifetime.

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