At the beginning of the experiment, the average age of the participants was 36 years. For more than 40 years, participants underwent a 4-year follow-up examination that included physical and cognitive tests, general health interviews, and blood samples for biochemical and molecular analysis. There were 10 such “exams” in total.
After analyzing the results, they came to the following conclusions. Low levels of “good” cholesterol in the blood have been associated with risk of Alzheimer’s disease in early and middle age. At the same time, high glucose levels in middle age increased the risk of disease in old age.
“These results show for the first time that cardiovascular risk factors, including high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which has not always been reported as a strong risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, actually contribute to future risk for this disease as well, starting at age 35. said Xiaoling Zhang, MD, assistant professor of medicine at Boston University.