Study shows ‘good’ cholesterol may protect against brain atrophy, dementia

Excessive-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good” ldl cholesterol, could play a significant position in conserving wholesome mind matter in middle-aged adults, UT Southwestern Medical Middle researchers report. The findings, revealed within the Journal of Medical Drugs, may give medical doctors and sufferers extra perception into elements that have an effect on cognitive well being in growing older adults.

“Our research has recognized a novel position of HDL ldl cholesterol perform in sustaining grey matter quantity within the mind, which is necessary for cognitive perform in middle-aged adults,” mentioned the research’s first writer, John Giacona, Ph.D., PA-C, Assistant Professor of Utilized Medical Analysis and Inside Drugs within the College of Well being Professions at UT Southwestern.

“Our research was the primary to research for a possible hyperlink between HDL perform and mind quantity.”

To find out whether or not there was a hyperlink, the researchers assessed 1,826 contributors between the ages of 35 and 70 enrolled within the multi-ethnic, population-based Dallas Coronary heart Examine, a longitudinal research now in its twenty fifth yr.

First, fasting lipoprotein concentrations had been assessed utilizing nuclear magnetic resonance. Contributors had been then examined for cognitive perform, and their mind matter quantity was measured utilizing mind magnetic resonance imaging. Preliminary assessments passed off between 2000 and 2002, and contributors had been reassessed between 2007 and 2009.

Anand Rohatgi, M.D., Professor of Inside Drugs within the Division of Cardiology, and his staff at UTSW’s Medical Coronary heart and Vascular Middle measured HDL perform on this research. Their findings revealed that increased concentrations of small-particle HDL, however not bigger particles or whole HDL focus, had been linked with higher grey matter quantity and better cognitive capability.

“Earlier analysis has proven conflicting proof concerning the focus of HDL ldl cholesterol in growth of dementia or mind atrophy,” mentioned senior writer Wanpen Vongpatanasin, M.D., Professor of Inside Drugs and Director of the Hypertension Part within the Division of Cardiology at UTSW. “Nonetheless, the focus of HDL ldl cholesterol could not mirror their perform.”

HDL decreases the quantity of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “unhealthy” ldl cholesterol, in blood vessels by transporting the surplus to the liver, the place it will get damaged down. “As well as, HDL particles exist in lots of sizes, which can be linked to their perform,” Dr. Vongpatanasin mentioned.

“We now want to grasp precisely how the small HDL particle, which might cross the blood-brain barrier, could have a helpful position in sustaining mind well being.”

This discovering led the researchers to notice that HDL ldl cholesterol perform or ranges of small HDL particles could also be used as markers for a inhabitants liable to growing cognitive decline, although extra research could be required to substantiate the connection.

Drs. Giacona and Vongpatanasin credit score UTSW’s multidisciplinary collaboration for the research’s success.

“Our unified deal with coronary heart and mind well being fosters multidisciplinary collaboration among the many Cardiology, Neurology, and Superior Imaging Analysis Middle departments,” mentioned Dr. Giacona, who can be a licensed Hypertension Specialist on the Medical Coronary heart and Vascular Middle as a member of the Hypertension Part. He mentioned this analysis “has prolonged the potential helpful position of HDL ldl cholesterol efflux perform to the mind.”

Ldl cholesterol efflux is the power of HDL to “scoop up” ldl cholesterol particles from plaques within the coronary heart’s blood vessels and transfer these particles to the liver for disposal.