A recent study found that high levels of “good cholesterol,” also called HDL-C, may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in postmenopausal women.
This is surprising because HDL-C is generally believed to protect our health. The research has been published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
The study was led by scientists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health and they found that after women go through menopause, the quality of their HDL cholesterol can become more important than the quantity.
As women age, the quality of these HDL particles decreases, which can affect brain health.
HDL particles come in different sizes and types, and they don’t all work the same way. The researchers studied blood samples from 503 women who participated in a long-term health study.
They found that women had more large HDL particles in their blood over time, but these large particles did not work as well as the smaller ones.
Between 2000 and 2016, the researchers regularly tested the women’s memory and thinking skills. They found that women who had more small HDL particles, especially those high in phospholipids (a type of healthy fat), performed better on memory tests as they got older. Phospholipids help keep brain cells healthy.
Dr. Samar El Khoudary, lead researcher and professor at the University of Pittsburgh, said this is important because memory loss is one of the first signs of Alzheimer’s disease.
However, previous research by the same team has shown that healthy habits can help HDL particles work better. These habits include regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, eating right and not smoking.
This means that even if someone has high HDL levels, following a healthy lifestyle can still improve the functioning of these particles – and this can help protect the brain, not just the heart.
