Public Health

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Gerontology
• Public Health

Background:

• Abnormal lipid levels in midlife correlate with cognitive decline and dementia risk.
• This association is under-researched in the Indian population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between lipid profiles and cognitive performance in Indian adults.
• To examine the impact of cholesterol-lowering medication on cognition in an Indian cohort.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal analysis of two Indian cohort studies (CBR-SANSCOG and CBR-TLSA) with participants aged ≥45.
• Serum lipid profiles and cognitive function (using COGNITO battery) were assessed at baseline and follow-up.
• Multiple linear regression models analyzed associations between lipids, cognitive change, and medication use.

Main Results:

• Higher total cholesterol was associated with steeper memory decline in the rural cohort.
• No direct lipid-cognitive association was found in the urban cohort.
• Cholesterol-lowering medication use in the urban cohort correlated with slower decline in language and memory but faster decline in visual attention.

Conclusions:

• Elevated total cholesterol is linked to accelerated memory decline in rural Indian adults.
• Cholesterol-lowering medication demonstrated a complex, mixed effect on cognitive functions in urban Indians.
• Further research is needed on lipid abnormalities and lipid-lowering treatments' effects on cognitive trajectories in diverse populations.