Middle-Aged Cholesterol & Golden-Years Dementia

Even moderately elevated cholesterol levels in midlife are strongly associated with later risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD), new research suggests [1].

Lead author Dr Alina Solomon (University of Kuopio, Finland) and colleagues used data from the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Medical Group to investigate the relationship between midlife cholesterol and dementia and found that cholesterol defined as "borderline high" of 200 to 239 mg/dL increase risk.

"Both physicians and patients need to know that elevated cholesterol increases the risk not only for heart disease, but also for dementia," Solomon said. "The most important finding was that even moderately elevated cholesterol at midlife can increase the risk of both AD and VaD later in life."

The study is published in the August 2008 issue of Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders.
The study included 9844 subjects who had undergone detailed health evaluations during 1964 to1973, when they were ages 40 to 45 years.

Comparing those with cholesterol below 200mg,dL, the analysis showed Alzheimer's disease hazard ratio for midlife borderline cholesterol (200-239 mg/dL) and 1.57 for high cholesterol (>240 mg/dL).

The risk of vascularr dementia hazard ratios were 1.50 for borderline cholesterol and 1.26 for high cholesterol.

Dr Robert Stewart (King's College London, UK) said that the Solomon study data are "convincing." "In general there is now a large body of evidence that indicates that what is bad for the heart is bad for the brain—that is, that the well-known risk factors for coronary heart disease and stroke are also risk factors for dementia (whether this is classified as Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia)," Stewart said. [2]

"So the real message for clinicians is not to do anything differently, but to be aware that what they should be doing already—identifying and treating high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes and promoting healthy diet and active lifestyles—is likely to have more benefits than originally envisaged and should reduce risk of dementia as well as reducing risk of cardiovascular disease."

Kardea Nutrition enables cholesterol lowering and heart healthy diets.

[1] Solomon A, Kivipelto M, Wolozin B, et al. Midlife serum cholesterol and increased risk of Alzheimer's and vascular dementia three decades later. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2009; 28:75-80
[2] Kelly, Janis Elevated cholesterol in midlife increases dementia risk. The Heart.Org August 11, 2009.

Cholesterol Lowering Foods: A Gourmet Meal Plan from Kardea Nutrition

The science is clear and convincing. Therapeutic nutrition ---integrating a number of nutrients that actively alter cholesterol production, absorption and composition--- can help achieve cholesterol lowering comparable to many of the widely prescribed medications.

What are these active nutrients? The list below is generally consistent with the recommendations of the US National Institutes of Health National Cholesterol Education Program.*
Kardea Nutrition is on a mission to provide cholesterol lowering foods and cholesterol lowering recipes that allow you to achieve these nutrients, each and every day. Here is a goumet lunch & dinner meal plan (good for a Summer Sunday) that is both heart healthy and inspired. It delivers:

2+g of natural plant sterols from foods and taken through the course of the day
30g of total fiber
7g of heart healthy soluble fiber
1g Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA)
Ony 150mg of dietary cholesterol

Less than 7% of calories from saturated fats

About 20% of calories from cholesterol-improving monounsaturted fats.

This cholesterol lowering menu simply needs a bit more of the right kind of soluble fiber to meet the recommendations of the National Cholesterol Education Program. Look to breakfast to achieve the NCEP recommendations. A good morning start would be an oat cereal and fruit. The minimum recommendations for soluble fiber will be met.

In my life, I shoot for the higher 20-25g recommendation for viscous soluble fiber. Each morning, I dissolve in juice a blend of a concentrated oat fiber, ground psyllium husk and a dispersable plant sterol--a new product from Kardea Nutrition. One tablespoon of this blend delivers about 7 grams of heart-healthy soluble fiber and another 500mg of plant sterols.

Remember-this is not simply a low cholesterol meal plan; it is a collection of cholesterol-lowering foods.

Luncheon

Mediterranean Salmon Salad
Chick Peas with Oregano
Roasted Asparagus
Whole Wheat Roll

Snack

Kardea Gourmet Nutrition Bar

Dinner 1st Course

Gazpacho: Quick, Bold & Delicious

2nd Course

Chicken Balsamic Reduction Barley Pilaf

Steamed Broccoli

Dessert

Kardea Gourmet Wellness Bar

Sorbet of Your Choosing Fresh Berries or Sliced Ripe Peaches.

*Niacin is addressed in the National Cholesterol Education Program but substantially in the context of high doses prescribed by a doctor. Click for information on niacin in intermediate doses

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