Dementia-associated Dyslipidemia Study

Abstract

Introduction: As age advances, the risk of several noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease,
dyslipidemia, etc increases. Dementia is among the most common diseases of older adults and accounts for significant disease
burden globally. Dyslipidemia is especially common in older adults with diabetes. In the current study, the aim was to assess
if patients with dementia have dyslipidemia and if so, whether the frequency was different in age-matched control group.
Material and methods: A total of 836 subjects over the age of 60 years were screened and of these, 536 (67.12 ± 4.5 years) subjects
who met the diagnostic criteria for diagnosis of dementia (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV) were enrolled for the study. A
total of 32 cognitively normal subjects above the age of 60 years, but without cardiovascular risk factors (65.12 ± 3.5 years) were
selected as controls. Selected patients underwent lipid profile assessment apart from detailed neuropsychological, neurological,
and radiological examination. The frequency of dyslipidemia among cases and control was compared. Results: Total
serum cholesterol, very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in patients with dementia were
234.56 ± 22.5 mg/dL, 136.58 ± 11.3 mg/dL, 35.5 ± 3.5 mg/dL, respectively, while high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was 28.7 ± 7.8
mg/dL. Corresponding values in the healthy controls were: Total cholesterol (TC) = 156.36 ± 12.5 mg/dL, LDL = 86.15 ± 12.3
mg/dL, VLDL = 25.5 ± 3.5 mg/dL, HDL = 37.7 ± 1.8 mg/dL. Comparison of means using paired t-test showed all biochemical
values (TC, LDL, VLDL, HDL) differed from controls (p < 0.0001). Out of 536 cases with dementia, 157 (29%) had deranged lipid
profile. Patients of Alzheimer's disease (AD) with comorbid diabetes and hypertension were more likely to have dyslipidemia
compared to AD patients without these two comorbidities (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The current study indicates that patients
with dementia have a high frequency of dyslipidemia, and the frequency is higher compared to healthy controls (p ≤ 0.05)