Does lowering LDL levels reduce dementia?

KUWAIT MEDICAL JOURNAL, cilt.58, sa.3, ss.171-178, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

Yayın Türü: Makale / Derleme
Cilt numarası: 58 Sayı: 3
Basım Tarihi: 2026
Dergi Adı: KUWAIT MEDICAL JOURNAL
Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Scopus, Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED)
Sayfa Sayıları: ss.171-178
Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

The brain, rich in lipids, is vulnerable to disruptions in

lipid balance, which are associated with neurological and

neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease,

while high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and

triglyceride-rich lipoproteins foster arterial retention and

inflammation, driving atherosclerosis. Multiple risk factors

influence dementia development, with cerebral small

vessel disease resulting from arteriolar wall infiltration

by inflammatory cells and plasma constituents, being a

significant contributor. Elevated plasma LDL cholesterol is

now considered a modifiable risk factor for dementia, and

statins—HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors—not only reduce

LDL-C levels, but also provide pleiotropic benefits such as

plaque stabilization, immunomodulation, anti-inflammatory

effects, endothelial function enhancement, and antioxidant

and antithrombotic actions. Evidence suggests that

statins may provide neuroprotection through cholesterol

reduction and additional mechanisms. Experimental studies

associate cholesterol consumption with increased amyloid

production, whereas observational research suggests that

statin use correlates with a lower dementia risk. Reducing

LDL-C may also curb systemic and central nervous system

inflammation, yet the exact mechanisms remain uncertain,

highlighting the need for prospective controlled trials to

assess and compare the short- and long-term cognitive

effects of different lipid-lowering treatments.