High Cholesterol May Raise Alzheimer’s Risk
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Having high cholesterol levels not only puts your heart at risk, but a new study shows it may endanger your mind as well and raise the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers found that a protein involved in the formation of the brain-clogging plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease may also play a role in cholesterol regulation.
They say the findings may explain the link found in prior studies between high cholesterol levels and to increasing levels of a protein called amyloid-beta (Aβ) that forms the plaques found in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease.
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In the study, published in Nature Cell Biology, researchers found that a larger protein called amyloid precursor protein (APP), which generates Aβ proteins, also helps in maintaining healthy cholesterol levels.
Researchers say one non-Alzheimer’s-related function of the APP is related to cholesterol metabolism, which suggests a vicious circle in which plaque-forming amyloid beta protein levels are controlled by cholesterol, and cholesterol, in turn controls amyloid beta levels.
Such a spiraling mechanism could result in both amyloid-beta protein and cholesterol levels spinning out of control and promote the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
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If further studies confirm these results, researchers say cholesterol management may be incorporated in to treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.
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SOURCES: Grimm, M. Nature Cell Biology, Oct. 9, 2005 advance online edition. News release, Nature.