You may have heard Alzheimer’s referred to as ‘type 3 diabetes,’ which explains how neurons in the brain can become progressively insulin resistant. But what we don’t often talk about is the connection between brain health and cholesterol — because without enough cholesterol, you have a much higher risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases.
Does this seem hard to believe?
That’s probably because:
Cholesterol is not what you think it is
We’ve been conditioned to think that cholesterol ‘is bad’ and having too high a number means you’ll eventually die of heart disease. We’ve also been told to eat less fat and avoid high-cholesterol foods so we don’t increase our risks for heart disease.
But this is outdated science — most doctors haven’t updated their messaging (even after decades of study). Research has debunked cholesterol as a dangerous boogeyman we should avoid.
Just see what the research has to say:
- Cholesterol isn’t something ‘bad’ you get from eating ‘bad’ food. Your body creates 80% of what it needs, and studies admit there’s no direct correlation between cholesterol intake and blood cholesterol levels.
- Higher levels of LDL cholesterol are linked with longer lifespans. This means lowering your cholesterol with artificial drugs (i.e., statins) may not be in your best interests.
- This is because high cholesterol is associated with a lower risk for infections and disease progression. Yes, this includes atherosclerosis (heart disease) and brain diseases such as dementia.
I could talk much longer on cholesterol and heart health, but suffice it to say that cholesterol is an incredibly important aspect of our health.
Of course, this hasn’t stopped pharmaceuticals and food companies from continuing to demonize cholesterol. Take a stroll through the grocery store, and you’ll find many prepackaged foods declaring they’re ‘cholesterol-free.’ It doesn’t help that we’re prescribing more statins than ever — annual prescriptions nearly doubled between 2008 and 2019.
All that to say, we’re fighting the wrong battle. We are encouraging people to shut down their natural cholesterol production. Now we might be facing the consequences on our brain health — then blaming it on ‘genetic propensity’ instead of the real culprits.
How Alzheimer’s disease is tied to low cholesterol
As I mentioned, cholesterol is not the enemy. It serves many purposes that our bodies need to function. But the one we’ll focus on here is building tissue — because cholesterol builds, repairs, and regenerates both cell membranes and nerve sheaths.
If the body doesn’t generate enough cholesterol to stay healthy, it eventually manifests in mental health disorders. The lack of fat may contribute to:
- Mood disorders and suicide risk
- Anxiety and depression
- Severe mental illnesses (SMIs)
These results may be due to weakened cell membranes and low-quality myelin sheaths that cover neurons in the brain. This also contributes to memory loss and brain atrophy, which is one of the first and most obvious signs of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Now guess what happens when you throw statins into the mix — studies report poor cognitive performance and increased blood glucose (the root cause of many metabolic disorders). Even the FDA warns of side effects like memory loss and confusion, which may revert to normal after stopping your medication.
But remember: many doctors prescribe statins as ‘forever drugs’ to keep your cholesterol low, which means you’re constantly reducing the amount of naturally-produced cholesterol in your body. So it should come as no surprise that the long term risks are high. Some studies find that taking statins increases your risks for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease by nearly 200%.
Keep in mind statins have only existed since the late 1970s. We’ve had barely 50 years to study these drugs. And considering Alzheimer’s cases are on the rise, living with chronically low cholesterol may not lead to better health.
Reducing your risks for Alzheimer’s disease
If you want to avoid neurodegenerative disorders, don’t try to reduce your cholesterol to zero. Instead, focus on adjusting your lifestyle habits so your body can moderate its own lipid profile.
This means:
Eating whole, real food
You might be sick of hearing it by now, but please: leave processed foods behind. No matter where you fall on the human diet spectrum, choosing whole, real food is almost certainly better for your health.
Eating eggs, for example, may cut Alzheimer’s risks by almost 50%. Fatty fish like salmon and tuna may also come with benefits.
You can’t say the same for cakes, chips, or cookies, even if they advertise being ‘healthy alternatives.’
Don’t worry too much about a ‘high’ cholesterol reading at first, especially if you’re following a keto or carnivore diet. Cholesterol tends to increase as your body burns visceral fat on ketosis, which eventually returns to a normal range as your body becomes fat adapted.
Rethinking your statins
Yes, you can stop taking statins after you start. And yes, you can reduce your LDL cholesterol by changing your diet.
Remember: medications aren’t always the best way to treat chronic disease, and if you’re thinking about your metabolic health, it might be wise to focus on lifestyle changes instead of pills or medications with uncertain long-term effects.
Considering patients with Alzheimer’s disease experience decreased brain function on statins, it may not be worth playing with fire if you’re already at risk.
Prioritize sleep and stress management
You might not think about the impact of sleep and stress on your cholesterol, but there are connections you should know. Too little sleep can raise your LDL cholesterol, while acute mental stress can raise your total cholesterol almost immediately.
Plus, prolonged stress and lack of sleep ultimately lead to a dysregulated cholesterol, which is typically referred to as dyslipidemia. Dyslipidemia is correlated with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. You can probably see where this is going.
If you’re not currently making sleep and stress management your priorities, I highly suggest you do so. And if you’re struggling to make these adjustments alone, a metabolic health coach might be an option.
Going beyond the statin
Cholesterol isn’t the only risk factor in Alzheimer’s disease. There are many other elements outside your control, like head injuries, air pollution, and genetic factors to consider. However, these typically occur in less than 1% of cases — and it may be wiser to focus on what you can change today.
Curious to know where you should start? Use my free metabolic health calculator here.
