Health & Fitness
BU Study Says Health At Age 35 Linked To Alzheimer's Risk
A new Boston University study says blood sugar and cholesterol levels as early as age 35 could be related to a later Alzheimer's diagnosis.
BOSTON — Ignoring cholesterol levels at age 35 may have a larger impact on your brain health years down the line, and affect your chances of developing Alzheimer's disease, a new study from Boston University says.
On Wednesday, researchers at Boston University released a study claiming that 35-year-olds with lower levels of high-density cholesterol - or "good" cholesterol, are more likely to have Alzheimer's disease later in life.
Researchers found that high triglyceride levels at age 35 are associated with higher chances of developing Alzheimer's decades later, and adults with high blood glucose levels between 51 and 60 are at a higher risk of developing the disease later on.
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"While our findings confirm other studies that linked cholesterol and glucose levels measured in blood with future risk of Alzheimer's disease, we have shown for the first time that these associations extend much earlier in life than previously thought," explains study author Lindsay A. Farrer, Ph.D., chief of biomedical genetics.
This study was conducted using data obtained from participants of the Framingham Heart Study who were examined in approximately four-year intervals throughout most of their adult lives. Correlations of Alzheimer's disease with multiple known risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes including HDL, LDL, triglycerides, glucose, blood pressure, smoking, and body mass index were measured at each exam during three age periods in adulthood, 35-50, 51-60, and 61-70.
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Farrer said that for every 15 points that your blood sugar goes up, the risk of Alzheimer's increases by 14.5 percent.
According to the researchers, careful management of these factors starting in early adulthood can lower your risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, as well as Alzheimer's. "Intervention targeting cholesterol and glucose management starting in early adulthood can help maximize cognitive health in later life," adds Farrer.
For more information, read the full study here.
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