Association of higher levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in elderly individuals and lower risk of late-onset Alzheimer disease.

OBJECTIVE

To reexamine the association of lipid levels with Alzheimer disease (AD) using Cox proportional hazards models.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Northern Manhattan, New York.

PARTICIPANTS

One thousand one hundred thirty elderly individuals free of cognitive impairment at baseline.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels.

RESULTS

Higher levels of HDL-C (>55 mg/dL) were associated with a decreased risk of both probable and possible AD and probable AD compared with lower HDL-C levels (hazard ratio, 0.4; 95% confidence interval, 0.2-0.9; P = .03 and hazard ratio, 0.4; 95% confidence interval, 0.2-0.9; P = .03). In addition, higher levels of total and non-HDL-C were associated with a decreased risk of AD in analyses adjusting for age, sex, education, ethnic group, and APOE e4 genotype.

CONCLUSION

High HDL-C levels in elderly individuals may be associated with a decreased risk of AD.