A study conducted in the United States linked an increased concentration of so-called bad (LDL) cholesterol at higher risk for Alzheimer's disease before the age of 65.
These cases account for about 10 percent of Alzheimer's patients. Earlier studies have linked high blood LDL cholesterol to a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease in old age, according to the journal JAMA Neurology.
Emory University scientists believe the observed link between LDL cholesterol and Alzheimer's can be explained by the effect of the generic version of APOE E4.
It is the single most important genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, which also has the effect of increasing LDL cholesterol levels in the blood. The new findings are based on an analysis of data collected from 2125 respondents.
