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Lipoprotein profile in older patients with vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease
1Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Internal Medicine II, University of Ferrara, Italy. gzuliani@hotmail.com
Insights
Low HDL-C cholesterol is linked to vascular dementia (VD) in older adults, but not Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study investigated lipoprotein profiles in patients with VD, AD, and healthy controls to understand these associations.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cardiovascular Health
- Gerontology
Background:
- Lipoprotein profile alterations are linked to cerebrovascular disease.
- Cerebrovascular disease may contribute to vascular dementia (VD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD).
- The association between dyslipidemias and VD or AD remains controversial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the lipoprotein profile in older patients with VD and Late Onset Alzheimer's Disease (LOAD).
- To compare the lipoprotein profiles of dementia patients with non-demented older controls.
- To determine if specific lipoprotein levels are associated with VD or LOAD.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 100 older patients (60 with VD, 40 with LOAD) and 54 non-demented controls.
- Analysis of lipoprotein profiles, adjusting for functional status, blood sedimentation rate, and serum albumin levels.
- Multivariate analysis and stratification by apo E4 genotype were performed.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in overall lipoprotein profiles were found between groups, except for lower HDL-C in VD patients compared to controls.
- Low HDL-C (< 45 mg/dL) was significantly associated with VD (Odds Ratio: 6.52 vs controls, 4.31 vs LOAD) after multivariate adjustment.
- No differences in plasma lipid levels were observed between groups when stratified by apo E4 genotype.
Conclusions:
- Low HDL-C levels are associated with vascular dementia (VD) in older subjects.
- Low HDL-C levels are not significantly associated with Late Onset Alzheimer's Disease (LOAD) in this sample.
- These findings contribute to understanding the role of lipid profiles in different types of dementia.
Background:
Some alterations of the lipoprotein profile have been associated with cerebrovascular disease. Recently, it has been suggested that cerebrovascular disease might play a role in the pathogenesis of both vascular dementia (VD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Nevertheless, the possible association of dyslipidemias with VD or AD is still a controversial issue.
Methods:
We investigated the lipoprotein profile in 100 older patients with vascular dementia (VD; no degrees: 60) or Late Onset Alzheimer's Disease (LOAD; no degrees: 40). The patients were compared with 54 community dwelling non-demented older controls.
Results:
After adjustment for functional status, blood sedimentation rate, and serum albumin levels, no differences in lipoprotein profile emerged between the three groups, with the exception of HDL-C that was lower in VD compared with controls. Low HDL-C (< 45 mg/dL) was associated with VD (O.R.: 6.52, C.I. 95%: 1.42-30.70 vs controls, and 4.31, C.I. 95%: 0.93-19.82 vs LOAD), after multivariate adjustment. No differences in plasma lipid levels emerged between the three groups after stratification for apo E4 genotype.
Conclusions:
In this cross-sectional study low HDL-C levels are associated with VD, but not with LOAD, in a sample of older subjects.
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