VOLUME 2008 issue 20

High Cholesterol in Your 40s Increases Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease

People with high cholesterol in their early 40s are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), as compared to those with low cholesterol. Rachel Whitmer, from Kaiser Permanente Division of Research (California USA), and colleagues studied 9,752 men and women who underwent health evaluations in the 1960s and 1970s when they were between the ages of 40 and 45. Then between 1994 and 2007, the team obtained the most recent medical records for group, finding that 504 of the study participants were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease and 162 with vascular dementia. Those with total cholesterol levels between 249 and 500 mg were 1.5-times more likely to develop AD than those with levels of 198 or less. People with cholesterol levels of 221 to 248 mg were more than 1.25-times more likely to develop AD. The researchers conclude that: “High mid-life cholesterol increase[s] the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease regardless of diabetes, blood pressure, obesity, smoking, and stroke [later in life].”
[Whitmer R. et al. Presented at the 60th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, April 16, 2008.]

Dr. Klatz remarks: “The number of Alzheimer’s cases worldwide is projected to triple by the year 2050, stressing many nations’ healthcare resources. This study identifies a causal link between cholesterol and AD, and mandates that patients and physicians take action to attack high cholesterol levels before it causes irreversible damage in the body.”

Vitamin D Linked to Artery Health

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) occurs when arteries in the legs become narrowed or clogged with fatty deposits, thereby reducing blood flow in the legs. Michal Melamed, from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (New York USA), and colleagues analyzed data from 4,839 participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and found that PAD occurred an average of 4.4% less often in people with increased blood levels of Vitamin D. After adjusting for age, sex, race, and co-existing health problems, the team found that PAD was 64% more common in the group with the very lowest vitamin D levels. Further, for each 10 ng/mL drop in Vitamin D level, the risk of PAD was found to increase by 29%.
[Melamed ML, Muntner P, Michos ED, Uribarri J, Weber C, Sharma J, Raggi P. “Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels and the Prevalence of Peripheral Arterial Disease. Results from NHANES 2001 to 2004.” Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2008 Apr 16; [Epub ahead of print].

Dr. Goldman observes: “Peripheral artery disease affects about 8 million Americans and is a significant cause of cardiovascular disease and death. Previous studies have correlated low Vitamin D levels with an increased risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and congestive heart failure. While this study does not prove that increased levels of Vitamin D protect against PAD directly, it does suggest that higher Vitamin D levels may be a marker of general cardiovascular health.”

Vitamin E Improves Longevity of Alzheimer’s Patients

In people with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Valory Pavlik, from Baylor College of Medicine (Texas USA), and colleagues found that regular Vitamin E supplementation significantly reduced mortality. The team followed 847 men and women with AD, average age 73.5, for an average of 4.9 years. The study participants were supervised on a high-dose Vitamin E supplementation regimen, which was found to reduce their odds of dying by 26%.
[Pavlik, V. et al. Presented at the 60th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, April 18, 2008.]

Dr. Klatz comments: “Previous studies have shown that Vitamin E plays a role in delaying the progression of moderately severe AD. This study suggests that Vitamin E increases the lifespan of patients with AD, Further research in this vein may ultimately discover nutritional interventions to improve the quality of life for AD patients, thereby reducing dependence as well as healthcare costs. This will become an increasingly important issue as the global population ages and the numbers of cases of AD rise.”

< PREVIOUS PAGE NEXT PAGE >