Cholesterol and Brain Health: How High LDL Levels May Trigger Alzheimer’s and Dementia

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When it comes to Cholesterol, people think about bad cholesterol but something lesser known is that it plays an important role in our cognitive health. Scroll down to know more.

Cholesterol is important for brain function, which supports neuronconnections, but if levels of cholesterol are high, then there are chances that a person can suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline. Cholesterol levels play a key role in an Individual’s life. It also leads to the formation of Alzheimer’s plaques. According to many studies, it has already been revealed that high LDL levels may be linked to an increased risk of dementia.

Why Cholesterol Is Crucial for Brain Function

Sometimes the link between cholesterol and the brain can be tough to understand. Many people have this common perception about cholesterol as bad but many people are trying to bring down their blood cholesterol levels.Many individuals might not be aware that 20 to 25 per cent of the body’s cholesterol is present in the brain. Imbalances in brain cholesterol have been known to cause Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.

• Learning and memory: It plays an important role in learning and memory and which is very important for the function of synapses.
• Cell membrane structure: Cholesterol is a key component of cell membranes, influencing their structure and function, which is important for cell interactions and signal transmission.
• Hormone production: Cholesterol is also linked to hormone production. Since the blood-brain barrier prevents circulation to the brainand then brain is dependent on the chloesterol it produces itself.
• Alzheimer : There are chances that if a person has high levels of Chloesterol levels then there are chances that they are likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
• Plaque Formation:You can see a formation of plaque, as high cholesterol is responsible for increasing inflammationand oxidative stress
• Impaired Brain Communication :These plaques are the reasons when communication is disturbed between brain cells and tissues.
• less blood flow :If you have high LDL levels, then it can lead to plaque buildup in the blood vessels which reduces the flow of blood and deprives brain cells to get essential oxygen and nutrients.

The Hidden Link Between Cholesterol and Your Brain

There’s definitely a difference between blood and brain cholesterol as it affects brain health and cognitive function.

Blood Cholesterol, which is LDL, Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol. It is also known as bad cholesterol, it is also important in functioning of brain. The brain maintains blood-brain barrier, you cannot link blood cholesterol to brain it is significantly different which does not directly reflect brain choloesterol. Recent study also revealed that higher cholesterol levels have the ability to protect brain health in adults, whereas older age can lead to dementia if cholesterol levels seem to befluctuating.

Key Highlights

• Blood Chloesterol is different from Brain Chloesterol
• Imbalnaces in brain Chloesterol can cause Alzheimer and Parkinson disease.
• High LDL levels increases the risk of dementia
• High LDL levels can also lead to plaque buildup
• Chloesterol is linked to hormone production
• Brain is dependent on the chloesterol it produces itself since blood brain barrier is an obstruction.

Overall, Chloesterol is important whether it is present in blood or the brain. it’s important for the functioning of the cognitive health. The only right way to maintain cognitive health is through exercise , diet and lifestyle to stay in shape as you age.