Blood levels of cholesterol (or “cholesterolemia” in medical language) and triglycerides (“triglyceridemia”) are generally measured in blood tests to diagnose and monitor the progression of cardiovascular diseases. Triglycerides are generally brought into the blood by the consumption of alcohol or fats (eggs, oil, butter, etc.) and their levels generally skyrocket after a rich and well-watered meal!
In short, to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, it is recommended to pay attention to your triglyceride levels. But according to a new Australian study, people whose triglycerides are in the “high normal” or moderately high range would be less likely to develop dementia, compared to their peers with lower triglyceride levels.
This study was conducted among 18,000 people aged over 75 who were followed for 12 years. The results suggest thatHigh triglyceride levels are associated with slower cognitive decline.
Conflicting results
A few months ago, American researchers also became interested in this same subject. But they found, conversely, that people over 60 with significant fluctuations in their triglyceridemia and cholesterol levels presented a greater risk of senile dementia – and Alzheimer’s disease, in particular.
For 5 years, American researchers worked with 11,571 volunteers aged 60 and over. They underwent regular blood tests to measure their cholesterol and triglyceridemia. Participants were then classified into 5 groups based on how much their blood levels fluctuated during the observation period. The volunteers were then followed for another 13 years.
The results of their study published in the journal Neurology, show that participants in group 5 for cholesterol levels (that is to say: with a very variable blood cholesterol level) had on average a risk of + 19% compared to those in group 1 (who had relatively low cholesterol levels). stable). Participants in group 5 for triglyceridemia, for their part, had an excess risk of +23% compared to those in group 1.
For the moment, American researchers do not explain this phenomenon but emphasize that cholesterolemia and triglyceridemia should be monitored more closely in elderly patients, in order to prevent the occurrence of a neurodegenerative pathology.
Sources:
Association Between Triglycerides and Risk of Dementia in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Prospective Cohort StudyNeurology, October 2023
Association Between Fluctuations in Blood Lipid Levels Over Time With Incident Alzheimer Disease and Alzheimer Disease–Related DementiasNeurology, September 2023
