A study showed that people who maintain good cardiovascular health throughout their middle years might have better odds at keeping their brains healthy as they get older. This study directed attention to the growing obesity problem, which is usually accompanied with numerous heart problems that researchers are worried might trigger an outbreak of Alzheimer's patients in the years to come.

One researcher stated this was a major public health issue particularly considering it is estimated that nearly 16 million Americans will be afflicted with Alzheimer's by the year 2050.

At this time, 4.5 million Americans have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

Some of the recommendations researchers offered to lose weight and raise good cholesterol levels included exercising and eating a diet rich with mono-unsaturated fats. The examples of mono-unsaturated foods researchers cited were nuts and drinking one or two glasses of wine a day.

Studies on Cholesterol Levels and Memory Problems

• One study analyzed over 4,000 healthy women and discovered that the women who had the highest HDL levels during their mid years had decreased the chance of developing memory-related and other cognitive problems later in life by 50 percent

• The HDL cholesterol level of these women were on the average 73 milligrams per deciliter, which is above the typical average of between 40 and 60

• A second study evaluated over 3,300 senior citizens and discovered that the seniors who were taking diuretics to treat their high blood pressure had decreased their risk of developing Alzheimer's by 40 percent

Based on the results from this study researchers concluded that people who kept their blood pressure in the healthy range and controlled cardiovascular risk factors had a better chance of warding off Alzheimer's.

USA Today July 21, 2004