A French-led team looked at cholesterol levels and memory deficit among 3 673 male and female civil servants, who were assessed when they reached the age of 55 and again when they reached 61.
Low levels of HDL-C (40 milligram's per decilitre or less) were associated with a greater risks of a memory gap in both assessments, when compared with high levels (60 mg/dL or more) of this lipo-protein.
How the test was done
The test comprised the ability to recall the maximum number of words in a 20-word list. "HDL-C levels are potentially modifiable, and our results show that low HDL-C is associated with poor memory and decline in memory in
middle-aged adults," the study said.
The paper appears in the US journal Ateriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, published by the American Heart Association.
Lead author is Archana Singh-Manoux of the National Institute for Health and Medical Research (INSERM).
Cholesterol is notoriously implicated in cardiovascular disease, notably when there are high levels of "bad" cholesterol, or LDL-C, compared with levels of HDL-C. – (Sapa)
July 2008
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