Zhen (Lucy) Zhou

Fluctuating Cholesterol Linked to Higher Dementia Risk A new study links fluctuating cholesterol levels in older adults to a heightened risk of dementia and cognitive decline. Researchers tracked nearly 10,000 older adults without dementia, finding that those with high year-to-year cholesterol variability were significantly more likely to develop dementia. Notably, changes in total and LDL cholesterol were associated with faster declines in memory and reaction speed. Researchers suggest that these fluctuations, even without medication changes, could destabilize blood vessel health in the brain, potentially impacting cognitive function. High cholesterol variability may serve as an early indicator for dementia, with potential for future therapies targeting cholesterol stability. These findings highlight the need for consistent monitoring of cholesterol levels as a part of cognitive health assessment.