“Bad” Cholesterol Tied to Alzheimer’s

Low-density lipoproteins (LDL or the “bad” cholesterol) may play a role in the development of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. In this study, researchers observed that individuals with high LDL cholesterol levels had an elevated risk for early-onset Alzheimer’s disease when compared to participants with lower LDL levels, even after controlling for a genetic mutation linked to high LDL cholesterol. Lead researcher Dr. Thomas Wingo notes, “If there is a causal link between Alzheimer’s disease and cholesterol, we might need to revise targets for LDL cholesterol levels to help reduce Alzheimer’s risk.” JAMA Neurology, May 2019