LDL-C Variability Linked to Poor Cognition

Variability in visit-to-visit low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), independent of mean LDL-C levels and statin treatment, is predictive of lower cognitive performance, according to the results of a recent study.

Recent research has shown that variability of LDL-C can predict cerebrovascular and cardiovascular events, but whether this association extends to cognitive function is still unknown.
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For their study, the researchers examined data from 4428 participants from the PROspective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk (PROSPER). They also assessed the association between LDL-C variability and neuroimaging outcomes in a subset of 535 participants. All individuals had 4 postbaseline LDL-C measurements taken.  

Overall, higher LDL-C variability was associated with lower cognitive function in both patients taking placebo and those treated with pravastatin. The researchers observed associations with attention, processing speed, and memory. Higher LDL-C variability was also associated with white matter hyperintensity load in the pravastatin arm, while no evidence was uncovered for an association between LDL-C variability and pravastatin treatment for cognitive and magnetic resonance imaging outcomes.

“We found that higher visit-to-visit variability in LDL-C, independently of mean LDL-C levels and statin treatment, is associated with lower cognitive performance, lower cerebral blood flow, and greater white matter hyperintensity load,” the researchers concluded.

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Smit RAJ, Rompet S, Sabayan B, et al. Higher visit-to-visit low-density lipoprotein cholesterol variability is associated with lower cognitive performance, lower cerebral blood flow, and greater white matter hyperintensity load in older subjects [published online July 19, 2016]. Circ. http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.115.020627.