By Gregory Kellett, a cognitive neuroscience researcher at SFSU and UCSF, and writer for Lumos Labs.
A recent British study published by the American Heart Association suggests that the balance of cholesterol in our blood may affect not only heart health but also memory performance. It is widely accepted that diets promoting “Good” cholesterol, otherwise known as high-density lipoprotiens (HDL), can reduce cardiovascular disease, but it now appears that high HDL may also be good for memory.
Researchers tested 3,600 British civil servants for both HDL levels and memory performance over time, first at an average age of 55 and then again at 61.
The results?
- Participants with higher HDL levels did consistently better at recalling items from a list of 20 words after 2 minutes.
- For those whose HDL levels declined between tests there were also declines in memory performance.
Reference:
Singh-Manoux, A., Gimeno, D., Kivimaki, M., Brunner, E., & Marmot, M. G. (2008). Low HDL Cholesterol Is a Risk Factor for Deficit and Decline in Memory in Midlife. The Whitehall II Study. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, 28, 1398.
3 Comments
I was surprised that the study on chloresterol (HDL) and memory did not mention that they controlled for exercise, which would raise HDL and probably increase circulation to brain also. Well, in any case, if one wants to raise HDL exercise would be high on list anyway; and of course exercise should be high on the list.
Good Point.
It would be helpful when you post about a study to say “how much” of a difference the study found. Large differences are obviously much more important (and should be prioritized by readers accordingly) than small differences.
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