Summary: Higher amounts of HDL, the so-called” great cholesterol”, does not protect against Alzheimer’s in older people, with the risk probably tied to the quality, not quantity, of HDL allergens. A new research shows that larger HDL contaminants, which increase during menstruation, reduce efficiency in supporting mental health.
Women with smaller HDL particles and phospholipid-rich particles in the middle of life were found to have better recollection over time, according to research. According to the review, healthy habits may enhance brain health and increase HDL quality. This adds to evidence that lifestyle changes, even in one’s 40s, does lower Alzheimer’s danger in later years.
Important Information:
- HDL value, not just degrees, is linked to cognitive wellbeing in older people.
- Larger, less efficient HDL particles boost as women change through menopause.
- Life factors can enhance HDL quality, probably supporting brain health.
Origin: University of Pittsburgh
Higher levels of HDL-C—known as the” good cholesterol” —have been shown to correlate with , heightened risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
A new study published in , the , Journal of Clinical Endocrinology &, Metabolism , may reveal why.
When women reach the menopause change, it’s a matter of the value, rather than volume, of the overall cholesterol carried by HDL particles circulating in a person’s bloodstream, and that quality declines over time, according to a research team led by a University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health epidemiologist.
HDL particles vary in their size, composition and level of functioning. The team measured these features in the blood of 503 women from the , Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation ( SWAN )  , HDL ancillary study.
The researchers found that, over time, the number of larger HDL particles in the women’s bodies increased—and these larger particles, unfortunately, did not function as well as their smaller counterparts.  ,
From 2000 to 2016, the researchers compared the study participants ‘ cognitive performance to changes in the women’s HDL particles, composition, and function as they grew older.
According to research,” We were able to demonstrate that women who have more of the smaller-sized particles and those whose particles ‘ concentrations of phospholipids increased over the menopause transition are more likely to have better episodic memory later in life,” said Samar R. El Khoudary, Ph. D., M. P. H., professor of , epidemiology at Pitt Public Health, adding that loss of working memory is the first sign of Alzheimer’s disease.
Previously, El Khoudary’s team has shown that health behaviors—such as those included in the American Heart Association’s ( AHA )  , Life’s Essential 8—work to improve the quality of HDL particles, for example by adding more of the phospholipid-rich particles in the bloodstream.
” That’s the good news in this developing picture of brain health and the’ not-so-good-after-all’ cholesterol”, said El Khoudary.
There are things you can do that might help, even in your 40s, even though higher HDL-C levels may not be protective as you get older. The same, modifiable risk factors that the AHA is advocating for—including physical activity, ideal body weight and quitting smoking—can help you protect your brain, too” . ,
Meiyuzhen Qi, Ph. The first author of this study is D., a post-doctoral researcher in the Department of Epidemiology at Pitt Public Health.
Researchers from Rush University, Rush Medical Center, University of California Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, University of Michigan School of Public Health, and University of Massachusetts Medical School are additional coauthors.
About this Alzheimer’s disease research news
Author: Allison Hydzik
Source: University of Pittsburgh
Contact: Allison Hydzik – University of Pittsburgh
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access.
” The SWAN HDL ancillary study examines high-density lipoprotein in women over the course of their midlife and future cognition.” by Samar R. El Khoudary et al. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology &, Metabolism
Abstract
The SWAN HDL ancillary study examines high-density lipoprotein in women over the course of their midlife and future cognition.
Context
Limited data provides conclusive evidence on the link between comprehensive high-density lipoprotein ( HDL ) measurements and cognitive performance, particularly in midlife women for whom the benefit might be greatest.
Objective
To assess the associations of serum HDL metrics including HDL lipid content]HDL cholesterol, phospholipid ( HDL-PL), triglyceride], proteins/subclasses]apolipoprotein A-1 ( apoA-1 ), small, medium, large, total HDL particle ( HDL-P), and HDL size], and cholesterol efflux capacity with cognitive performance in midlife women.
Methods
This prospective cohort study was conducted among 503 midlife women ( 1234 observations ) from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation HDL ancillary study. Joint models were applied to examine associations of HDL metrics assessed at midlife ( 50.2 ± , 2.9 years, baseline of the current study ) and their changes over midlife ( 6.1 ± , 3.9 years of duration ) with subsequent cognitive performance]working memory ( Digit Span Backward Test ), processing speed ( Symbol Digit Modalities Test ), and episodic memory immediate and delayed recall ( East Boston memory test ) ] assessed repeatedly ( maximum 5 times ) 1.5 ± , 1 years later over 7.72 ± 4.10 years of follow up.
Results
Higher total HDL-P and a smaller HDL size in the middle of life were related to a faster subsequent recall, a delay recall, and/or processing speed. Greater increase in HDL-PL, apoA-1, medium HDL-P, and total HDL-P and less increase in HDL size over midlife were associated with a better subsequent immediate and/or delayed recall.
Conclusions
Enhancing specific serum HDL metrics during midlife could be promising in cognitive restoration, particularly memory, the initial and predominant symptom of Alzheimer’s disease.
