Low LDL-C Levels Linked to Reduced Risk for Dementia

WEDNESDAY, April 9, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Low low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels are associated with a reduced risk for dementia, including Alzheimer disease-related dementia (ADRD), according to a study published online April 1 in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.

Minwoo Lee, M.D., Ph.D., from Hallym University College of Medicine in Anyang, South Korea, and colleagues examined the association between low LDL-C levels and the risk for dementia and assessed the influence of statin therapy in a retrospective analysis of data from 11 university hospitals participating in the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model. A primary analysis cohort of 108,980 propensity score-matched patients compared individuals with LDL-C levels less than 70 mg/dL to those with levels greater than 130 mg/dL.

The researchers found a 26 percent reduction in the risk for all-cause dementia and a 28 percent reduction in the risk for ADRD in association with LDL-C levels below 70 mg/dL versus greater than 130 mg/dL. An 18 percent risk reduction for both outcomes was seen for LDL-C levels below 55 mg/dL. Statin use versus nonuse was associated with a 13 and 12 percent reduction in the risks for all-cause dementia and ADRD, respectively.

“These findings underscore the crucial role of managing LDL-C in lowering dementia risk and highlight the importance of targeted strategies in addressing cardiovascular and cognitive health outcomes by physicians,” the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text