- With Mayo Clinic clinical neuropsychologist
Glenn Smith, Ph.D.
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Glenn Smith, Ph.D.
Glenn Smith, Ph.D.
Dr. Glenn Smith is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist who specializes in Alzheimer's disease.
Dr. Smith, a Lincoln, Neb., native, has been with Mayo Clinic since 1990 and works with neurologists, psychiatrists, internists, social workers and nurses involved in diagnosing and providing care for people with dementia and their families.
"For Alzheimer's disease, there is currently no cure," he says. "The best 'medicine' for patient and family remains education and support. Hopefully, Mayo Clinic's Alzheimer's disease Web resources contribute to compassionate care and understanding for Alzheimer's families."
Dr. Smith is a professor of psychology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, a consultant in the Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, and principal investigator of the Mayo Alzheimer's Disease Research Center Education Core. He is past president of the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology.
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Question
High cholesterol: Does it increase my risk of Alzheimer's?
What is the role of cholesterol in Alzheimer's disease? Does having high cholesterol increase my risk of Alzheimer's?
Answer
from Glenn Smith, Ph.D.
There is very little evidence to indicate that a high blood level of cholesterol has any bearing on the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Although a few studies have made this claim, the vast majority of research has found no link between high cholesterol and Alzheimer's.
Several clinical trials are under way to determine if cholesterol-lowering drugs can prevent or delay Alzheimer's disease. But such drugs are not being tested in people with elevated cholesterol levels. Instead, it appears that some cholesterol-lowering drugs may coincidentally affect a process that increases the risk of Alzheimer's — unrelated to their effect on cholesterol.
It's premature at this time to recommend cholesterol treatment to prevent Alzheimer's. More research is needed to clarify whether cholesterol medications may play a role in preventing or treating Alzheimer's.
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