The 'good' cholesterol may protect against Alzheimer's

The relationship between blood cholesterol levels and Alzheimer's disease seems obvious. What is less clear is how these lipids affect their onset and development and at what stage of life are important. A new work developed at Columbia University (New York, USA) states that have high good cholesterol can reduce the risk of dementia.
Alzheimer's is the protagonist of one of the most prolific areas of research in recent years. This form of dementia, the most common one is present in 1% of people between 65 and 69 years and its prevalence increases to 60% in adults over 95 years. Despite its frequency and the numerous studies, many aspects of the disease remain unknown.

Protect against Alzheimer's

The influence of fats, especially cholesterol, on Alzheimer's has been demonstrated on numerous occasions. Christiane Reitz and colleagues at the Taub Institute at Columbia University have conducted several studies in this regard. The last one, in which 1,130 adults took part over 65 years, appears in the journal Archives of Neurology.

For 18 months, the authors did a follow up of participants, including 101 new cases were detected in Alzheimer (89 probable and 12 possible), and measured their levels of total cholesterol, 'good' (HDL) and 'bad' ( LDL). The results confirmed the researchers' hypothesis by showing a relationship between higher HDL levels (55 milligrams per deciliter or greater) and a lower risk of developing dementia and the Cure the Alzheimer's.

Cure the Alzheimer's

This conclusion is consistent with previous findings indicating that low levels of HDL are a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. Either by a stroke pathway or through other mechanisms (alteration of insulin, the degradation of the amyloid protein, etc.) Cholesterol 'good' seems to influence the onset of this disease.
Despite modest progress, Alzheimer's remains one of the most difficult to study for several reasons. First, only a few primates naturally suffer. In addition, beta-amyloid protein (which forms clumps or plaques typical of this condition) is not human like that of other animals. Finally, you can not study the process in vivo in humans, only in the body.