Overview

• A study of over 570,000 individuals in South Korea found that lower LDL cholesterol levels are associated with a 26% reduced risk of dementia and a 28% reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
• Statins provide additional protection, reducing dementia risk by 13% and Alzheimer’s risk by 12% among individuals with already low LDL cholesterol levels.
• The protective effect of low LDL cholesterol diminishes at extremely low levels, with no additional benefit observed below 0.8 mmol/L.
• The study emphasizes the importance of managing LDL cholesterol but notes its observational nature cannot establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship.
• Experts call for clinical trials to explore the mechanisms behind these findings and refine prevention strategies for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.