- Researchers investigated how fluctuating cholesterol and triglyceride levels affect dementia risk.
- They found that fluctuating cholesterol and triglyceride levels increase dementia risk by 19% and 23%, respectively.
- Further research is needed to understand how these findings may affect patient care.
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Prevention strategies for dementia are crucial for preserving health. One way to develop these strategies is to examine potential risk factors that increase dementia risk, and then find ways to mitigate them.
Screenings for cholesterol and triglyceride levels are a part of routine medical care. Cholesterol is a type of fat produced by the liver that is used to build cells and hormones. Triglycerides are a type of fat used for energy.
Investigating the link between blood lipids and dementia risk could provide an easy way for clinicians to screen for dementia risk and potentially prevent or delay its onset.
While studies have produced mixed results on whether high cholesterol levels increase dementia risk, some research indicates a
Further understanding of which lipid components increase dementia risk could provide insights for future screening options and treatments for dementia.
Recently, researchers analyzed health records to determine whether a link exists between cholesterol levels and dementia risk.
They found that participants in the top 20% of cholesterol and triglyceride variability were significantly more likely to develop dementia than those in the bottom 20%.
“While not necessarily practice-changing, this study emphasizes that we should pay particular attention to those with variable cholesterol levels. Further studies will be necessary to determine whether this variation is a true contributor to development of Alzheimer’s disease or simply a byproduct of…
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