Midlife high cholesterol levels could increase dementia risk by 40%, doctor says
A leading medical expert has warned Brits that middle aged people with high cholesterol levels face a 40 per cent increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in their later years.
This comes as concerning NHS data shows that more than 944,000 people in the UK have dementia - equivalent to one in 11 people over the age of 65. Alzheimer's Research UK statistics have revealed that dementia was the leading cause of death across the UK in 2022, accounting for more than 74,000 deaths.
What’s more, Our Future Health has reported that 54 per cent of volunteers were found to have high total cholesterol levels. Dr Avinash Hari Narayanan (MBChB), clinical lead at London Medical Laboratory, has called for cholesterol level testing for those aged 40 to 60 to help reduce their chances of developing neurodegenerative diseases.
He said: "The link between high cholesterol levels in middle age and the later onset of dementia now seems to be proven. A wealth of research points to the fact that high – or even moderately elevated – cholesterol in midlife is associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia.
"That’s hugely significant, as preventative measures for these life-altering conditions have traditionally started only later in life. Now we can test people in their 50s and assess their diets and lifestyles to manage or even reduce the risk of future dementia and Alzheimer's disease."
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Dr Narayanan expanded on the correlation between high cholesterol and increased dementia risk, referencing research by the Heart Research Institute UK. Scientists wrote that LDL - also known as ‘bad’ cholesterol - "aggregates a protein called ‘tau’ between neurons, which cross the blood-brain barrier and can lead to dementia".
"The Institute claims up to 40 per cent of a person’s dementia risk can be attributed to modifiable risk factors such as diet," the doctor added. The research was led by Dr Ashish Misra, who said: "This is the first time we’ve been able to say categorically that there’s a direct link between what we eat and our cognitive decline."
Dr Narayanan also touched on a study, published in the journal Neurology, which identified that high midlife cholesterol levels increased the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease three decades later. He added: "Worryingly, this research also found that even moderately elevated cholesterol in midlife was associated with an increased long-term risk of Alzheimer's."
Specifically, the findings found that midlife cholesterol values higher than just 220 mg/dl (5.6mmo/L) increased the risk of developing Alzheimer’s three decades later. "Traditionally, cholesterol levels over 240 mg/dl (6.2 mmol/L) have been considered high, so this level is concerningly lower," the doctor said.
In a separate study, researchers monitored the cholesterol levels of 8,845 participants from 1964 to 1973, when they were between the ages of 40 and 44. They were studied again in the 2000s. The results suggested the presence of multiple cardiovascular risk factors at midlife had "substantially" increased their risk of late-life dementia.
"Smoking, hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes at midlife were each associated with a 20 to 40 per cent increased risk of dementia in later years, with high cholesterol and diabetes being the most significant risk factors," added Dr Narayanan. He said: "In order to reduce the risk of cognitive decline, action must be taken before the onset of high cholesterol levels. Behaviour modification and lifestyle changes are essential to address the dementia epidemic."
How to lower cholesterol
The NHS has shared some helpful advice on the best ways to lower cholesterol:
- Eating less fatty food - cut down on foods that contain saturated fats, such as sausages, cakes, cream, and hard cheese. Instead, opt for oily fish, brown rice, nuts, fruits and vegetables
- Exercise more - aim to do at least 150 minutes of exercise a week
- Stop smoking - smoking can raise your cholesterol and increase your risk of heart attacks, strokes and cancer
- Cut down on alcohol - Avoid drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week
Dr Narayanan concluded: "Clearly, there is a need for expanded cholesterol level testing to rapidly identify who is at risk, across all age groups. Testing routines must consider not only the risk of heart attacks and strokes, but also dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and other health issues.
"With GP surgeries extremely busy at this time of year, it’s important to recognise that there are alternatives. The most common options are finger-prick cholesterol blood tests, which can be taken at home or at many local community pharmacies."
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