J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2008 Nov;47(6):540-547.

A Correlation between Neurocognitive Impairments and Serum Lipid Levels among the Korean Elderly

• You YS
• Choi SJ
• Jung SS
• Kim JE
• Yoon SW
• Jeon DW
• Baek JH
• Park SW
• Lee JG
• Choo IH
• Kim YH

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
In this study, the authors evaluated the correlation between neurocognitive impairments and serum lipids levels among Korean elderly over the age of 65.
METHODS
A total of 609 elderly individuals participated in this study. Screening for cognitive impairments were carried out using the Mini-Mental Status Examination-Korean version (MMSE-KC). There were 197 subjects above 1.5SD of MMSEKC and they were evaluated using the Korean versions of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (AD)(CERAD-KC) and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-K).
RESULTS
There was a correlation between old age/low levels of education and AD (p<0.05, p<0.01). There was an inverse correlation between the serum level of total cholesterol and the word list recognition test scores. The serum levels of LDL cholesterol were inversely correlated with the scores on the constructional praxis test, word list recall test and word list recognition test. Inverse correlations between the serum level of triglyceride and scores on the word list recall test and word list recognition test were also observed.
CONCLUSION
There were inverse correlations between the serum levels of lipids and language/memory function in subjects with AD.

Keyword

Alzheimer's disease; Risk factor; Cholesterol; Cognitive function

MeSH Terms

Aged
Alzheimer Disease
Cholesterol
Cholesterol, LDL
Depression
Humans
Mass Screening
Risk Factors
Cholesterol
Cholesterol, LDL