Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that slowly affects a person’s memory, thinking, and behavior. It mostly happens in older adults, but age isn’t the only factor. Our genes, lifestyle, and overall health also play a part in whether or not someone might get this condition.
A new study from scientists at Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark looked at how two common health issues—high blood pressure and cholesterol—might be connected to Alzheimer’s.
Their research, recently published in JAMA Network Open, found something quite surprising: even cholesterol levels that are often considered “good” might increase Alzheimer’s risk under certain conditions.
Let’s take a closer look at what they found.
The scientists used a method called Mendelian randomization, which involves studying genetic information to understand how certain traits might affect health. In this case, they focused on genes that naturally raise blood pressure or cholesterol levels and studied how those genetic traits were linked to Alzheimer’s.
They discovered that people with naturally higher levels of HDL cholesterol—the type usually called the “good” cholesterol—had a 10% higher chance of developing Alzheimer’s for every standard increase in HDL levels.
This doesn’t mean HDL is suddenly bad, but it shows that the story might be more complex than we thought. HDL cholesterol may have different effects in the brain than in the rest of the body.
They also found that people with higher systolic blood pressure (that’s the top number in a blood pressure reading) had a significantly higher risk of Alzheimer’s too. For every 10-point increase in systolic blood pressure, the risk went up by 22%.
This adds more evidence to what many scientists already believe: that high blood pressure can damage blood vessels in the brain and increase the chance of developing dementia.
While these numbers may sound worrying, the study also gives us hope. It shows that Alzheimer’s risk isn’t only written in our genes—there are still things we can do. Even if someone is born with genes that slightly raise their cholesterol or blood pressure, making healthy choices could help lower their overall risk.
This means that eating a balanced diet, staying active, avoiding smoking, and taking medication if needed to control blood pressure or cholesterol can do more than protect the heart—they may help protect the brain too.
The researchers hope that these findings will also help drug makers find new ways to prevent or treat Alzheimer’s. If we better understand how blood pressure and cholesterol affect the brain, we can look for treatments that target those exact problems early on, before memory loss begins.
Of course, it’s worth noting that some of the researchers involved in the study have ties to pharmaceutical companies. This is quite common in medical research, but it’s always good to be aware of possible conflicts of interest.
Still, this research adds an important piece to the Alzheimer’s puzzle. It helps us understand how brain health is deeply linked to heart health. So while we wait for a cure, we can already take simple steps to protect ourselves—by caring for our bodies today to help protect our minds tomorrow.
If you care about Alzheimer’s disease, please read studies about the protective power of dietary antioxidants against Alzheimer’s, and eating habits linked to higher Alzheimer’s risk.
For more health information, please see recent studies that oral cannabis extract may help reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms, and Vitamin E may help prevent Parkinson’s disease.
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