Cholesterol and Dementia: The Link

By Brooke Strickland
Writer for FEP International

High cholesterol can have devastating affects on your heart and overall lifestyle, but a new study shows that it is also linked to increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease or dementia later in life. Medical professionals at Kaiser Permanente surveyed 10,000 individuals for four decades, beginning when the participants were in their early to mid 40’s. Those who had a cholesterol value of 240 or more had a 66 percent greater threat of developing Alzheimer’s disease, and those with intermediate high cholesterol (200-239) had a 25 percent increase in risk [1].

Millions of Americans have high cholesterol, and much of this is due to inactive lifestyles and the lack of nutritional eating habits. So, if you have high cholesterol and are looking for ways to lower it naturally and effectively, here are a few tips.

• Increase your intake of fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, fiber, nuts, and olive oil
• Decrease your intake of red meat
• Minimize your stress level: Make sure to take time out of your day to relax and unwind
• Sweat it out: exercising is key
  

If you’re looking for some tasty “super-foods” that have proven to lower cholesterol, here are some good ones to start integrating into your daily eating rituals [2].

• Oatmeal
• Almonds
• Flaxseeds
• Garlic
• Apples
• Soy Protein
• Beans

These tips play a crucial role in decreasing harmful amounts of cholesterol, so go ahead— embrace a new lifestyle that makes your heart happier and healthier.


References

1. Study: Cholesterol levels tied to increased risk for dementia. CNNHealth. Accessed on the web August 4, 2009.

2. 10 Ways to Lower your Cholesterol Naturally. Lifescript. Accessed on the web August 4, 2009.