How Cholesterol is Linked to Dementia and Alzheimer's

Keeping Your Cholesterol Levels in Check Is Good for Your Brain

You probably know the connection between cholesterol and heart health, but you may be surprised to learn that your cholesterol levels can affect your memory, too.

High LDL (bad) and low HDL (good) cholesterol levels cause plaque to build up in your arteries, which slows blood circulation throughout your body -- including your brain. That increases your risk of dementia up to 46%.

That makes managing your cholesterol a key strategy to prevent dementia and Alzheimer's disease. A heart-healthy diet, exercise, not smoking, and taking your cholesterol-lowering medication as prescribed will help lower your LDL cholesterol and boost your HDL. The lower your LDL cholesterol, and the higher your HDL (that's the good-guy kind that helps remove plaque from your arteries), the better your chances of dodging dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

www.realage.com