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Comparative Study
. 2004 May;61(5):705-14.
doi: 10.1001/archneur.61.5.705.

Relation of plasma lipids to Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia

Christiane Reitz  1 , Ming-Xin Tang, Jose Luchsinger, Richard Mayeux
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Relation of plasma lipids to Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia

Christiane Reitz et al. Arch Neurol. 2004 May.

Abstract

Background: The relation between plasma lipid levels and Alzheimer disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD), and the impact of drugs to lower lipid levels remains unclear.

Objective: To investigate the relation between plasma lipid levels and the risk of AD and VaD and the impact of drugs to lower lipid levels on this relationship.

Design and setting: Cross-sectional and prospective community-based cohort studies.

Participants: Random sample of 4316 Medicare recipients, 65 years and older, residing in northern Manhattan, NY.

Main outcome measures: Vascular dementia and AD according to standard criteria.

Results: Elevated levels of non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and decreased levels of HDL-C were weak risk factors for VaD in either cross-sectional or prospective analyses. Higher levels of total cholesterol were associated with a decreased risk of incident AD after adjustment for demographics, apolipoprotein E genotype, and cardiovascular risk factors. Treatment with drugs to lower lipid levels did not change the disease risk of either disorder.

Conclusions: We found a weak relation between non-HDL-C, LDL-C, and HDL-C levels and the risk of VaD. Lipid levels and the use of agents to lower them do not seem to be associated with the risk of AD.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Description of the cross-sectional sample. AD indicates Alzheimer disease; VaD, vascular dementia; and WHICAP, Washington Heights–Inwood Columbia Aging Project.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Description of the sample used in the prospective study. AD indicates Alzheimer disease; VaD, vascular dementia; and WHICAP, Washington Heights–Inwood Columbia Aging Project.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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