A new study led by the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health suggests that the quality of HDL particles, rather than their quantity, may be linked to Alzheimer’s disease in women. Researchers emphasize the importance of healthy lifestyle choices to improve HDL quality.
Higher levels of HDL-C, commonly known as “good cholesterol,” have historically been associated with better health outcomes. However, startling new research led by the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health suggests a different narrative for women as they transition through menopause.
The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, reveals that the quality, not the quantity, of HDL particles plays a crucial role in cognitive health and may even influence the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
A research team led by Samar R. El Khoudary, a professor of epidemiology at Pitt Public Health, has discovered that the functionality of HDL particles deteriorates over time, which may impact brain health.
“We were able to show that as early as midlife, women who have more of the smaller-sized particles and those whose particles’ concentrations of phospholipids increased over the menopause transition are more likely to experience better episodic memory later in life,” El Khoudary said in a news release, emphasizing that loss of working memory is often the initial sign of Alzheimer’s disease.
The study utilized data from 503 women participating in the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN) HDL ancillary study, spanning from 2000 to 2016.
The research team measured variations in HDL particle size, composition and functionality, finding that larger HDL particles — while more prevalent as women aged — didn’t perform as effectively as their smaller counterparts.
El Khoudary and her team previously demonstrated that specific health behaviors could enhance HDL particle quality. These behaviors include practices advocated by the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Life’s Essential 8, which encompasses actions like maintaining physical activity, achieving an ideal body weight and avoiding smoking.
“Even though higher levels of HDL-C may not be protective as you get older, there are things you can do that might help, even as early as your 40s,” El Khoudary added. “The same, modifiable risk factors that the AHA is advocating for — including physical activity, ideal body weight and quitting smoking — can help you protect your brain, too.”
The implications of this research are significant. Given that cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease impact millions of individuals globally, understanding and acting upon these findings could lead to preventative health strategies, particularly for women in midlife. The study encourages a shift from merely tracking cholesterol levels to focusing on the quality and size of HDL particles, underscoring the necessity for early and sustained health interventions.
Meiyuzhen Qi, a post-doctoral researcher at Pitt Public Health, is the study’s first author. The research team also included scientists from various esteemed institutions, including the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Rush University Rush Medical Center and UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, among others.
This groundbreaking study opens new avenues for examining the relationship between lipids and cognitive health, potentially transforming the approach towards combating Alzheimer’s disease in women.