Low cholesterol levels associated with Alzheimer's disease

This study was published in Collegium Antropologicum 2011 Jan;35 Suppl 1:115-20

Study title and authors:
Serum lipid levels in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Presećki P, Mück-Seler D, Mimica N, Pivac N, Mustapić M, Stipcević T, Smalc VF.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21648320

The mini–mental state examination (MMSE) is a 30-point questionnaire that is used for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease. Any score greater than or equal to 27 points (out of 30) indicates normal cognition. Scores between 10-19 indicate the presence of Alzheimer's disease and scores of nine or less indicate severe Alzheimer's disease.

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship of cholesterol levels with Alzheimer's disease. The study included 50 women, aged 56-96 years, who had their cholesterol levels compared with 58 age matched healthy women. Patients with Alzheimer's disease were subdivided into two groups of 19 patients in the middle (MMSE 10-19) and 31 patients in the severe late (MMSE 0-9) phase of Alzheimer's disease.

The study found:
(a) Total cholesterol levels were significantly lower in all patients with Alzheimer's disease than in healthy subjects.
(b) Patients in the severe late stage of Alzheimer's disease had significantly lower total cholesterol, HDL Cholesterol, LDL Cholesterol and Triglyceride levels than healthy subjects.
(c) Patients in the severe late stage of Alzheimer's disease had significantly lower cholesterol and LDL Cholesterol levels than patients in the middle stage of Alzheimer's disease.

Presećki concluded: "Lipid (cholesterol) levels are reduced in female patients with Alzheimer's disease compared to lipid values in elderly female healthy controls ...and serum lipid levels are the lowest in patients in the late stage of Alzheimer's disease."

Links to other studies:
Alzheimer’s patients have significantly reduced levels of cholesterol and fats in the brain
High cholesterol levels associated with a decreased risk of Alzheimers disease
Low cholesterol levels are associated with a higher risk of Alzheimer's