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It’s no secret that keeping your cholesterol in check is good for your heart. Now there’s new research showing it could also be good for your brain.
Patients like 65-year-old Ed Vitasa take medication to keep high cholesterol under control, and for him it’s working. He has a healthy ratio of good to bad cholesterol, which is good for his heart.
New research from the University of Southern California shows that higher HDL, or good cholesterol, and lower LDL, or bad cholesterol, are associated with lower levels of amyloid plaque deposits in the brain.
The deposits are believed to be a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.
Neurologist Dr. Nerses Sanossian at the Keck School of Medicine at USC, says having that favorable cholesterol panel may be associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers looked at cholesterol levels and brain scans in nearly 75 older patients.
Previous studies have suggested a link between cholesterol and Alzheimer’s disease risk but this study is the first to make the connection in people who are still alive.
Dr. Sanossian says more study is needed to confirm the link but says there are many reasons to maintain a healthy lifestyle… including less heart disease and lower chance of stroke.
Ed says he’s motivated to stay healthy not only for his heart but his brain too.
He’s eating well, exercising, and says at 65, he feels his mind is sharp.
Canadajournal/Agencies
