New Delhi: Do you check your cholesterol levels regularly? The latest report by the new Lancet Commission raised alarm over high cholesterol and untreated vision loss as a significant risk for dementia as it may affect memory and cognitive skills. Alzheimer’s the most common type of dementia makes up 60 to 70 per cent of cases. Some of the major risk factors for cholesterol include diet, smoking and genetics. According to the report, these accounts for seven per cent of dementia cases are linked to high levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) that often increase around the age of 40 and untreated vision issues lead to two per cent of cases. Hence, keep those cholesterol levels in check and get those eyes checked, the report warned.
What is the link between Cholesterol and Dementia?
Top 27 experts underscore the importance of managing cholesterol and addressing vision problems to minimise the risk of developing dementia. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dementia is the seventh leading cause of death across the globe and this new study is particularly relevant for India. For the study, researchers focused on exploring how remnant-C levels are linked to the risk of developing dementia, using data from South Korea’s National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) covering about the entire population.
Based on the findings of the study, high remnant-C levels are significantly linked to an increased risk of vascular dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and all-cause dementia. The risk is higher for vascular dementia and is also more pronounced in middle-aged people who have diabetes, particularly with a longer duration of the disease.
Role of vision loss and dementia
According to a meta-analysis of three UK studies involving over 1.1 million people under the age of 65 that 1 mmol/L rise in LDL cholesterol raised dementia risk by eight per cent. While another study found that 1.2 million participants showed that LDL cholesterol levels over 3 mmol/L higher the risk of dementia by 33 per cent.
According to the report, these accounts for seven per cent of dementia cases are linked to high levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) that often increase around the age of 40 and untreated vision issues lead to two per cent of cases Health Conditions Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
