Cholesterol and cognitive impairment linked in new study

High cholesterol is linked to worse cognitive impairment in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new study.

Cholesterol is a fat molecule – known as a lipid. Some studies have found that problems with lipid metabolism may be linked with MS-related cognitive impairment, but there isn’t enough evidence yet.

To investigate the potential link further, researchers in the Czech Republic studied lipid levels, particularly cholesterol, in 211 people living with MS. Each participant completed a series of cognitive tests within three months of having their lipid levels measured. Some participants underwent testing multiple times, resulting in a total of 361 data points being analysed.

The results revealed a significant association between higher cholesterol levels and poorer performance on certain cognitive tests. Elevated LDL cholesterol was linked to lower scores on the Categorical Verbal Learning Test (CVLT), which assesses word-based learning, and the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R), a memory assessment. Conversely, higher HDL cholesterol was associated with poorer results on the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test-3 (PASAT-3), which measures auditory processing and mathematical ability.

Despite these findings, the researchers noted that the correlations were relatively modest. Even the strongest links showed that cholesterol levels accounted for less than 6% of the variability in cognitive test scores, indicating that other factors likely play a larger role.