Cholesterol and Dementia; What have your heard?

If you go to Pubmed and lookup this topic, you will find a ton of new research on this topic.

here is what is known (but go check it out for yourself). The Statins (Lipitor, etc) used to “treat” high cholesterol cause dementia. The connection is very clear. But, long term studies done on people with all the warning signs of heart failure...including high cholesterol found this..... the study group was divided into 2 groups. Only one group was given the statin. At the end of 5 years they looked at the mortality rates and found that there was only a3% difference. And that is within the margin of statistical error. So for all the issues that Statins cause (brain fog, painful joints, long term risk of dementia) the success rate is effectively ZERO

Finally, high triglyceride is caused by sustained high levels of glucose. (Lot of new studies on this too). Get the sugar out of your diet and see the improvement.

one final note,,,not all LDL is “bad”. There is two types...SD. Small dense, and L.F. Large fluffy (I am not kidding). Only the SD type is damaging. Since there is no good test for just SD LDL...it can be inferred. Divide your triglyceride by the HDL. If the number is less than 1.5 then most of the LDL is not SD....as the number goes up so does the percent of SD in the LDL. One study I read said that at about 2.1 the majority is SD.

anyway it is a huge topic...all of these studies are easy to find using Pubmed as a reference tool. (Get a good medical dictionary).

My total cholesterol last month was 230, yearly visit, my good was high, as it always is, my doctor said, don't worry about it, continue doing what you are doing. He said with my age, it will rise. I am 72 and have no other issues, blood pressure always lower than suggested range, A1C 5.2 and so on. Also, I do not have dementia. Recheck with me in 10 years, lets see if I still know my name and address! If not, the answer might be ...yes! I would adjust your diet and walk around the block everyday!

If you want to stay healthy start moving and keep moving. Walk walk walk. In the beginning of statins they thought that it might be the answer to brain as well as heart. As it turns out the thinking is often now that it is the answer to neither. Genes will out, is my feeling as a nurse. Worked cardiac all my life. When I saw high cholesterol levels they seems to play out more according to genetic background of parental heart disease or no. Just my own feeling. There is always some study out there. First it is carbs and then it is fat and then it is eat the fat it is the carbs and on and on and on. Eat a healthy diet. Keep the weight down. Never stop moving. Challenge you brain with new things. Learn a language, do different puzzles, take a class. Stay engaged. You will likely have to deal with some of the issues you have seen play out in your family. So stay strong and healthy as you are able. Oh, and take care of your teeth and gums, because, hey, there is all that belief now that everything is inflammation!

The carb cutback has nothing to do with your HDL levels. They effect your triglycerides. Yours must be high. Sugar is a big culprit. Lots of carbs there. Read up on good carbs, bad carbs.

My cholesterol is high and has been since Menopause. I have chose not to take medication. Especially Statins which Lipator is and still seems to be the first thing out of a doctors mouth. Sometimes, its just changing your diet and losing weight. My husband was 225. He cut out his daily Tastycake, I made him a no egg, no shortening cake. He took Pretzels to work instead of chips. Chicken cheesesteaks instead of regular. Low fat cheese and ham. He went down 40 pnts in 3 months. This doesn't work for everyone.

Statins contribute to Dementia. They can't target a certain part of the body. The brain is included. But the brain needs cholesterol to function. My Mom took statins for years. My doctor did not argue when I said I was not taking them. It was suggested I eat oatmeal everyday. Also, Flaxseed which sorry to say I haven't tried. I read you need to start easy because it can upset the stomach. I have problems with my stomach and bad about remembering to take pills.

I really don't think pasta, rice, pototoes are bad for people. Now what we put on them that is a different story and prepackage rice, pasta, potatoes that are highly process is not good for anyone!

I would have to agree with CW a healthy Vascular System = healthy Brain!


Just my 2 cents!!

I honestly don't believe it is carbs that need to be limited as much as it is highly refined carbs and highly processed, sugar laden foods that have become so common in our homes - the Mediterranean diet does include pasta after all. I have long suspected that there is a correlation between vascular disease and dementia that until recently has largely been ignored in the focus on Alzheimer's - a healthy vascular system means a healthier brain.