Is there a characteristic lipid profile in Alzheimer's disease?
OBJECTIVE
To characterize the lipid profile in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and to determine whether it differs from the cardiac risk profile.


BACKGROUND
Links between hypercholesterolemia and AD development continue to grow. Presently, limited information exists about the lipid profile characteristics in AD.


METHODS
We examined the lipid profiles (total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), lower-density lipoprotein (LDL), TC/HDL ratio, and triglyceride (TG) levels) of 153 subjects with probable/possible AD (mean age 77.2 +/- 8.6 years, mean MMSE 19.9 +/- 5.6) and 25 non-demented subjects with atherosclerotic heart disease (ASHD) (mean age 73.8 +/- 7.2 years); neither on lipid lowering therapy.


RESULTS
Subjects with TC > 200 mg/dl composed 69% of AD and 72% of ASHD groups. Mean TC was 218.9 +/- 38.9 mg/dl and 218.5 +/- 9.2 mg/dl for AD and ASHD subjects respectively. AD subjects exhibited significantly higher HDL and lower TG and TC/HDL ratios. MMSE did not correlate with any lipid parameters in AD.


CONCLUSIONS
Elevated TC, LDL and TG with normal HDL and TC/HDL ratio characterize the lipid profile in AD, which somewhat overlaps with but may be distinct from the cardiac risk profile. MMSE does not correlate with lipid parameters suggesting no interaction between cholesterol and cognition in AD.
Sabbagh
Marwan
M
The Cleo Roberts Center for Clinical Research, USA. Marwan.Sabbagh@sunhealth.org
Zahiri
H Reza
HR
Ceimo
Joanne
J
Cooper
Kimbal
K
Gaul
William
W
Connor
Donald
D
Sparks
D Larry
DL
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides