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Updated: Jul 28, 2025

Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions
Published on: April 23, 2021
Plant sterols and cholesterol metabolism are associated with five-year cognitive decline in the elderly population
Christopher Clark1,2, Mehdi Gholam2, Leonardo Zullo3
1Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zürich, Lenggstrasse 31, PO Box 363, 8032 Zürich, Switzerland.
Abstract:
Dysregulations in cholesterol metabolism are associated with neurodegenerative and vascular pathologies, and dementia. Diet-derived plant sterols (phytosterols) have cholesterol-lowering, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties and may interfere with neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. Here we performed multivariate analysis in 720 individuals enrolled in a population-based prospective study to determine whether circulating cholesterol precursors and metabolites, triglycerides, and phytosterols, are associated with cognitive impairment and decline in the older population. We report specific dysregulations of endogenous cholesterol synthesis and metabolism, and diet-derived phytosterols, and their changes over time associated with cognitive impairment, and decline in the general population. These findings suggest circulating sterols levels could be considered in risk evaluation and are relevant for the development of strategies to prevent cognitive decline in older people.
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