Association Between Triglycerides and Risk of Dementia in Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Zhen Zhou, Joanne Ryan, Andrew Tonkin, Sophia Zoungas, Paul Lacaze, Rory Wolfe, Suzanne G. Orchard, Anne M. Murray, John J. McNeil, Chenglong Yu, Gerald F. Watts, Sultana Monira Hussain, Lawrence J. Beilin, Michael E. Ernst, Nigel Stocks, Robyn L. Woods, Chao Zhu, Christopher M. Reid, Raj C. Shah, Trevor T.‐J. Chong, Ajay Sood, Kerry M. Sheets, Mark Nelson
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It has been suggested that higher triglyceride levels were associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer disease. This study aimed to examine the association of triglycerides with dementia and cognition change in community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: -ε4 carrier status and an external cohort (UK Biobank) with similar selection criteria applied. RESULTS: ≤ 0.05). DISCUSSION: Older adults with higher triglyceride levels within the normal to high-normal range had a lower dementia risk and slower cognitive decline over time compared with individuals with lower triglyceride levels. Higher triglyceride levels may be reflective of better overall health and/or lifestyle behaviors that would protect against dementia development. Future studies are warranted to investigate whether specific components within the total circulating pool of plasma triglycerides may promote better cognitive function, with the hope of informing the development of new preventive strategies.