Serum lipids and gender affect trajectories of cognitive function in late life

Abstract

Evaluation of: Reynolds CA, Gatz M, Prince JA, Berg S, Pedersen NL: Serum lipid levels and cognitive change in late life. J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 58, 501–509 (2010). As the proportion of seniors in the population continues to rise, so does the importance of understanding the factors that govern healthy aging and developing tools to identify those most at risk for the common diseases of aging. Since the 1950s, the Swedish Twin Registry has provided invaluable insights into the roles of genetics and environment in several key health concerns including cardiovascular disease and dementia. In the paper reviewed here, Reynolds et al. examine the relationships among serum lipids and cognitive decline in men and women from the ages of 50 to 96 years. Their findings support the hypothesis that certain serum lipid levels in midlife have predictive value for cognitive function in later decades, consistent with other epidemiological studies suggesting that the midlife years are critical for setting the stage for healthy aging. Intriguingly, Reynolds et al. also uncover provocative gender differences in the lipids and lipoproteins that offer the most predictive value for cognitive function in men and women.

Keywords:

• cognitive change
• gender
• lipid
• lipoprotein