Alzheimer's - Dementia, Author Interviews, JAMA, Lipids / 02.01.2014
High LDL, Low HDL Levels and Elevated Brain Amyloid
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Bruce Reed PhD
Professor of Neurology,
Associate Director UC Davis Alzheimer's Disease Center
Davis, CA 95616
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings of the study?
Dr. Reed: We found that high LDL cholesterol and low HDL cholesterol in blood were both associated with higher amyloid deposition in the brain. This is potentially very important because the deposition of amyloid seems to be a critical step that kicks off a whole chain of events that eventually lead to Alzheimer's disease. It is widely believed (although not proven) that if this deposition of amyloid could be blocked that we could greatly decrease the incidence of Alzheimer's. The connection to cholesterol is exciting because we know a fair amount about how to change cholesterol levels. A great deal more research needs to be done, but this does suggest a potential new path toward trying to prevent AD.
Dr. Bruce Reed PhD
Professor of Neurology,
Associate Director UC Davis Alzheimer's Disease Center
Davis, CA 95616
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings of the study?
Dr. Reed: We found that high LDL cholesterol and low HDL cholesterol in blood were both associated with higher amyloid deposition in the brain. This is potentially very important because the deposition of amyloid seems to be a critical step that kicks off a whole chain of events that eventually lead to Alzheimer's disease. It is widely believed (although not proven) that if this deposition of amyloid could be blocked that we could greatly decrease the incidence of Alzheimer's. The connection to cholesterol is exciting because we know a fair amount about how to change cholesterol levels. A great deal more research needs to be done, but this does suggest a potential new path toward trying to prevent AD.