Serum Cholesterol Levels Are Associated With Impaired Recall Memory Among Older People

SIR—Animal and in vitro studies have found that over-supply of cholesterol results in the formation of amyloid-β, which contributes to the degradation of the neurones and subsequent cognitive impairment [1]. Epidemiological findings from human studies investigating the relationship between cholesterol and cognitive impairment are more equivocal. Several studies [2–4] have reported that a high serum total cholesterol level is associated with an increased risk of vascular dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Other studies have reported that low total cholesterol (TC) is associated with an increased risk of MCI [5–8]. Adequate study of the relationship between cholesterol and cognition is of paramount importance since MCI and dementia are likely to present an enormous health burden on an expanding elderly population. Verbal memory impairment is a strong predictor of future development of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease [9, 10]. Therefore, investigating the association between serum cholesterol level and verbal memory has a clear clinical significance.