Your cholesterol levels may be associated with your memory. Studies suggest that memory loss is associated with low levels ofhigh-density lipoprotein (HDL)the “good cholesterol” and high levels oftriglyceridesandlow-density lipoprotein (LDL), the “bad cholesterol.” Researchers believe this memory loss may lead to dementia later in life.
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Studies Find Low HDL or High LDL Raises Memory Loss Risk
Research shows that there may be a link between cholesterol levels and memory loss. But the impact of lowering cholesterol levels is not consistent.
What It Means When Your Lipoprotein Levels Are High
Solving the Mystery of Cholesterol and Memory Loss
How does cholesterol affect memory and cognitive function? The precise answer to that question remains a mystery. Researchers speculate that HDL may improve memory in a number of ways. HDL has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which may improve brain function. HDL may also prevent the formation of beta-amyloid that forms in the brain tissue ofAlzheimer’spatients.
A review of studies in 2011 noted that “cholesterol seems to be intimately linked with the generation of amyloid, " which develops in Alzheimer’s disease. The majority of the studies they looked at found an association between cholesterol and Alzheimer’s disease.
And a more recent study, published in 2021 found that participants with high triglyceride levels and low HDL levels showed decreased integrity of the hippocampus, which is an area of the brain that is involved in memory—and this area often shows signs of amyloid buildup and atrophy (shrinking) in people who have dementia.
What You Should Know About Cerebrovascular Disease
What You Can Do About Cholesterol and Your Memory
While researchers continue to piece together the puzzle of cholesterol and memory loss, there’s a lot of action you can take now if you’re concerned about your cholesterol levels.
According to the American Heart Association, getting regular exercise and avoidingtobacco smokecan help to moderate cholesterol levels.Cholesterol-lowering drugscan also help you achieve your cholesterol goals.
And eating a heart-healthy diet is strongly recommended. In addition to avoiding saturated fats and cholesterol, Dr. Connor and other experts encourage people to get plenty offiber, eat fruits and vegetables regularly (aim for at least five to seven servings a day), and have one or two servings of fish per week.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Button EB, Robert J, Caffrey TM, Fan J, Zhao W, Wellington CL.HDL from an Alzheimer’s disease perspective.Curr Opin Lipidol. 2019;30(3):224-234. doi:10.1097/MOL.0000000000000604Mathew A, Yoshida Y, Maekawa T, Kumar DS.Alzheimer’s disease: cholesterol a menace?.Brain Res Bull. 2011;86(1-2):1-12. doi:10.1016/j.brainresbull.2011.06.006Sanjana F, Delgorio PL, Hiscox LV, DeConne TM, Hobson JC, Cohen ML, Johnson CL, Martens CR.Blood lipid markers are associated with hippocampal viscoelastic properties and memory in humans.J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2021 Jun;41(6):1417-1427. doi:10.1177/0271678X20968032American Heart Association.New guidelines: Cholesterol should be on everyone’s radar, beginning early in life.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Button EB, Robert J, Caffrey TM, Fan J, Zhao W, Wellington CL.HDL from an Alzheimer’s disease perspective.Curr Opin Lipidol. 2019;30(3):224-234. doi:10.1097/MOL.0000000000000604Mathew A, Yoshida Y, Maekawa T, Kumar DS.Alzheimer’s disease: cholesterol a menace?.Brain Res Bull. 2011;86(1-2):1-12. doi:10.1016/j.brainresbull.2011.06.006Sanjana F, Delgorio PL, Hiscox LV, DeConne TM, Hobson JC, Cohen ML, Johnson CL, Martens CR.Blood lipid markers are associated with hippocampal viscoelastic properties and memory in humans.J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2021 Jun;41(6):1417-1427. doi:10.1177/0271678X20968032American Heart Association.New guidelines: Cholesterol should be on everyone’s radar, beginning early in life.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Button EB, Robert J, Caffrey TM, Fan J, Zhao W, Wellington CL.HDL from an Alzheimer’s disease perspective.Curr Opin Lipidol. 2019;30(3):224-234. doi:10.1097/MOL.0000000000000604Mathew A, Yoshida Y, Maekawa T, Kumar DS.Alzheimer’s disease: cholesterol a menace?.Brain Res Bull. 2011;86(1-2):1-12. doi:10.1016/j.brainresbull.2011.06.006Sanjana F, Delgorio PL, Hiscox LV, DeConne TM, Hobson JC, Cohen ML, Johnson CL, Martens CR.Blood lipid markers are associated with hippocampal viscoelastic properties and memory in humans.J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2021 Jun;41(6):1417-1427. doi:10.1177/0271678X20968032American Heart Association.New guidelines: Cholesterol should be on everyone’s radar, beginning early in life.
Button EB, Robert J, Caffrey TM, Fan J, Zhao W, Wellington CL.HDL from an Alzheimer’s disease perspective.Curr Opin Lipidol. 2019;30(3):224-234. doi:10.1097/MOL.0000000000000604
Mathew A, Yoshida Y, Maekawa T, Kumar DS.Alzheimer’s disease: cholesterol a menace?.Brain Res Bull. 2011;86(1-2):1-12. doi:10.1016/j.brainresbull.2011.06.006
Sanjana F, Delgorio PL, Hiscox LV, DeConne TM, Hobson JC, Cohen ML, Johnson CL, Martens CR.Blood lipid markers are associated with hippocampal viscoelastic properties and memory in humans.J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2021 Jun;41(6):1417-1427. doi:10.1177/0271678X20968032
American Heart Association.New guidelines: Cholesterol should be on everyone’s radar, beginning early in life.
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