Study links high cholesterol to dementia
It has been added to a list of 12 previously known risk factors including depression, smoking and loneliness

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.
Who said what
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.
What next?
As well as encouraging people to "give yourself a chance" to prevent dementia by exercising every day, the study's lead author Professor Gill Livingston also called for improved public health policies such as smoking bans and restrictions on junk food.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
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.
-
May 18 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday's political cartoons feature Donald Trump, Air Force One, and the Pope.
-
5 hilariously heavenly editorial cartoons about the newly elected pope
Cartoons Artists take on the angel and the devil, music choices at the Vatican, and more
-
Celebrating 60 years of the Pennine Way
The Week Recommends This beautiful long-distance path immerses walkers in the beautiful British countryside
-
Fly like a breeze with these 5 tips to help cope with air travel anxiety
The Week Recommends You can soothe your nervousness about flying before boarding the plane
-
RFK Jr.'s focus on autism draws the ire of researchers
In the Spotlight Many of Kennedy's assertions have been condemned by experts and advocates
-
Full-body scans: are Neko Health and the like more panic than panacea?
The Explainer Hailed as the 'future of medicine' by some, but not all experts are convinced
-
Fighting against fluoride
Feature A growing number of communities are ending water fluoridation. Will public health suffer?
-
Shingles vaccine cuts dementia risk, study finds
Speed Read Getting vaccinated appears to significantly reduce the chances of developing Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia
-
The strange phenomenon of beard transplants
In The Spotlight Inquiries for the procedure have tripled since 2020, according to one clinician, as prospective patients reportedly seek a more 'masculine' look
-
How to do the 75 Hard trend the soft way
The Week Recommends The 75 Soft Challenge might be more your speed if you're trying to hit a soft reset
-
Texas outbreak brings 1st US measles death since 2015
Speed read The outbreak is concentrated in a 'close-knit, undervaccinated' Mennonite community in rural Gaines County