Study links high cholesterol to dementia

lab results showing cholesterol is high with a level of 279

Untreated vision loss was also newly identified as a risk factor

(Image credit: Ibodvar / Getty Images)

published 1 August 2024

What happened

Some dementia cases could be prevented if people took action to lower their cholesterol, a study has revealed.

The research, led by University College London, identified two new factors that contribute to dementia: high cholesterol and untreated sight loss in old age. These were added to a list of 12 previously known risk factors including depression, smoking and loneliness.

The study demonstrated a causal link between addressing the "modifiable" risk factors and reducing the likelihood of developing dementia by up to 45%, said Geir Selbæk, a member of the Lancet Commission on dementia prevention and research director at the Norwegian National Centre for Ageing and Health.

The authors said their findings showed that dementia does not just "hit people in a random way." Rather, people can help to determine their own fate.

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Arion McNicoll is a freelance writer at The Week Digital and was previously the UK website’s editor. He has also held senior editorial roles at CNN, The Times and The Sunday Times. Along with his writing work, he co-hosts “Today in History with The Retrospectors”, Rethink Audio’s flagship daily podcast, and is a regular panellist (and occasional stand-in host) on “The Week Unwrapped”. He is also a judge for The Publisher Podcast Awards.