Washington, 12 sep (EFE).-persons with high cholesterol levels can have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study conducted by Japanese researchers and published today by the medical journal Neurology.
“We have found that high cholesterol levels are significantly related to the senile plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease,” said Dr. Kensuke Sasaki, of the University Kyushu from Fukuoka.
The study looked at 147 people died after a prolonged period of observation of Alzheimer’s disease (between 10 and 15 years), of which 50, 34 per cent, had been diagnosed with the disease before the death
Researchers sought evidence of senile, plaques of proteins amyloid between nerve, cells and accumulations of neurofibrillary tangles, accumulations of another type of protein inside nerve, cells considered both by the experts as two of the main signs of Alzheimer’s disease.
Made, sample persons with high cholesterol levels, i.e. more than 224 milligrams per deciliter, recorded significantly more senile plaques than those with levels low or normal cholesterol.
A total of 86% of people with high cholesterol levels had these senile plaques, compared to only 62% with levels low.
However, researchers have not found one link to the other signs of Alzheimer’s, the tangles.
Sasaki also revealed that previous tests had revealed that the resistance to insulin, a sign of diabetes, may be another risk factor for the senile plaques related to this disease.
“Our research clearly marks that high levels of cholesterol can contribute directly or indirectly to these senile plaques,” highlighted the Japanese researcher.
, However, explained that “negative evidence of treatment with drugs that reduce cholesterol in patients with Alzheimer’s disease show that there is not a simple connection between lower cholesterol and prevent disease”. EFE
