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Cholesterol

Low Cholesterol Linked to Reduced Dementia Risk: New University of Bristol Study

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A groundbreaking study led by Dr Liv Tybjaerg Nordestgaard at the University of Bristol has found that low cholesterol can significantly reduce the risk of dementia. The research, which analyzed data from over a million people in Denmark, England, and Finland, discovered that individuals with certain genetic variants that naturally lower cholesterol have a lower risk of developing dementia. The study, published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, suggests that both genetic and medical treatments that lower cholesterol may help reduce dementia risk.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study, which analyzed data from over a million people, found that individuals with certain genetic variants that naturally lower cholesterol have a lower risk of developing dementia.
  • Reducing the amount of cholesterol in the blood by a small amount (one millimole per litre) was associated with an up to 80% reduction in risk of developing dementia for certain drug targets.
  • The researchers used a method called Mendelian Randomisation to mimic the effects of cholesterol-lowering medication on the risk of dementia.
  • Dr. Nordestgaard proposed that high cholesterol can lead to atherosclerosis, which may increase the risk of dementia.
  • The study suggests that giving participants cholesterol-lowering medication in randomised clinical trials over 10 or 30 years could provide more insight into the relationship between cholesterol and dementia.

Statistics:

  • Over 1 million participants were analyzed in the study from Denmark, England, and Finland.
  • The study found an up to 80% reduction in risk of developing dementia for individuals with certain genetic variants that lower cholesterol.
  • The researchers used data from the UK Biobank, the Copenhagen General Population Study, the Copenhagen City Heart Study, the FinnGen study, and the Global Lipids Genetics Consortium.

Sources:

  • University of Bristol (no specific date)
  • Alzheimer's Association (no specific date)
  • UK Biobank (no specific date)
  • Copenhagen General Population Study (no specific date)
  • Copenhagen City Heart Study (no specific date)
  • FinnGen study (no specific date)
  • Global Lipids Genetics Consortium (no specific date)
  • Medical Research Council (no specific date)
  • Independent Research Fund Denmark (no specific date)
  • Research Council at the Capital Region of Denmark (no specific date)

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