There is a strong link between high cholesterol levels and the risk of various types of dementia or decreased brain function, including vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Cholesterol is a substance produced naturally by the liver and can also be found in certain foods such as red meat or butter.
The two most abundant types of cholesterol in the body are good cholesterol (HDL) and bad cholesterol (LDL). Good cholesterol helps remove fat and unhealthy forms of cholesterol from the body.
LDL or “bad” cholesterol is also important for body function, but if it accumulates, it can build up in the arteries, forming plaque, and increasing the risk of diseases such as stroke and heart attack.
Dementia is the loss of memory and other thinking skills, commonly referred to as senile. There are several types of dementia, the most common being Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.
Several factors can increase the risk of dementia, including head injury.
Vascular dementia is caused by cardiovascular disease, and high cholesterol is known to be a major factor in vascular dementia. Studies have also found a strong link between high cholesterol and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as other types of dementia.
According to research, high cholesterol causes oxidative damage, which worsens brain degeneration associated with Alzheimer’s disease, liver disease, alcohol consumption, and head trauma.
However, the specific mechanisms by which high cholesterol levels can cause dementia are still being studied.
Until now there is no cure for dementia, the available treatments only aim to slow the decline in brain function. Therefore, we can try to reduce the risk factors for dementia, including maintaining normal cholesterol levels.
Several factors can increase bad cholesterol levels, for example, a diet high in saturated fat, lack of physical activity, smoking, obesity, diabetes mellitus, or liver disorders.
High cholesterol does not always cause disturbing symptoms, therefore we need to have regular blood tests to find out whether our cholesterol levels are normal or need to be changed.