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Updated: Jan 30, 2026

Isolation of High-density Lipoproteins for Non-coding Small RNA Quantification
Published on: November 28, 2016
Increases in total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein associated with decreased cognitive performance in healthy
Con Stough1, Andrew Pipingas1, David Camfield2
1Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University of Technology, H24, PO Box 218, Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia.
Abstract:
The current study examined associations between blood lipid profiles and cognitive functioning using a healthy non-demented elderly sample. The sample comprised 196 healthy volunteers (male; 86: female 110) aged 60-75 years from the Australian Research Council Longevity Intervention (ARCLI) study cohort. Serum total cholesterol (T-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) and triglycerides (TGL) were collected, and participants completed the Swinburne University Computerized Cognitive Assessment Battery (SUCCAB). In line with prediction, higher levels of T-C and LDL-c were found to be associated with impaired speeds of response in tasks assessing recognition memory, working memory and inhibitory processing. However, contrary to prediction both TGL and HDL-c were found to be unrelated to cognitive functioning in the current sample. It is suggested that frontal lobe function may be differentially sensitive to the effects of T-C and LDL-c accumulation during the aging process. Future data collection as part of the larger ARCLI intervention study will provide important follow-up data regarding the ability of the baseline blood lipid data to predict subsequent cognitive change.
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