Fat Bellies and High Cholesterol Lead To Alzheimer's

2 months ago 17th Apr 15:34

High cholesterol levels in your 40s could increase the chance of developing Alzheimer's disease in later life, says a new study into health ofthe middle aged.

The study involved 9,752 people in northern California and researchers discovered that those with high cholesterol levels between ages 40 and 45 were more likely than those with low cholesterol levels to later develop Alzheimer's disease.

The research team presented the results of the findings earlier this week to the American Academy of Neurology in Chicago.

"Alzheimer's disease does not happen overnight," Dr. Alina Solomon of the University of Kuopio in Finland, who assisted in the study.

cholesterol levels between 249 and 500 milligrams were one-and-a-half times more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease

Dr Solomon went on to say that Alzheimer's disease had a very long preclinical phase a phase he descibed as a silent phase, this was when it wasn't apparent and showed no signs but the disease was there. Pathological changes in the brain can sometimes develop over decades."

The study found people with total cholesterol levels between 249 and 500 milligrams were one-and-a-half times more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than those people with cholesterol levels of less than 198 milligrams. People with total cholesterol levels of 221 to 248 milligrams were more than one-and-a-quarter times more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia among older people, and researchers have been attempting to understand its causes and risk factors.

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