High cholesterol: Does it increase my risk of Alzheimer's?

What is the role of cholesterol in Alzheimer's disease? Does having high cholesterol increase my risk of Alzheimer's?

- Dean / Maryland

Answer

There is very little evidence to indicate that a high blood level of cholesterol has any bearing on the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Although a few studies have made this claim, the vast majority of research has found no link between high cholesterol and Alzheimer's.

Several clinical trials are under way to determine if cholesterol-lowering drugs can prevent or delay Alzheimer's disease. But such drugs are not being tested in people with elevated cholesterol levels. Instead, it appears that some cholesterol-lowering drugs may coincidentally affect a process that increases the risk of Alzheimer's — unrelated to their effect on cholesterol.

It's premature at this time to recommend cholesterol treatment to prevent Alzheimer's. More research is needed to clarify whether cholesterol medications may play a role in preventing or treating Alzheimer's.

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