A new study has found that high levels of “good” cholesterol in the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord may help protect you from Alzheimer’s disease.
According to the United Press International, researchers analyzed the concentrations of HDL particles, often described as “good cholesterol”, in the cerebrospinal fluid of 180 volunteers with an average age of nearly 77 years.
The study found that a higher number of small HDL particles in the cerebrospinal fluid was associated with two important indicators of Alzheimer’s disease.
It is related to the index of tests of memory and thinking (or cognition) skills, since volunteers with higher levels of HDL particles were able to successfully complete a series of cognitive tests.
The second indication is that people with higher levels of HDL particles also have higher levels of a peptide called “amyloid beta 42” in their cerebrospinal fluid.
Higher levels of this peptide are associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a report recently published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
“This study represents the first time that HDL (high-density lipoprotein) particles have been accounted for in the brain,” said study co-author Hussain Yasin, associate professor of medicine and neuroscience at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.