Cholesterol is an important brain nutrients

It is repeatedly emphasized in the media, how harmful is too high cholesterol to our health. But when it comes to brain health, nothing is further from the truth than that. The Framingham Heart Study, a large long-term study has proven that high cholesterol is associated with health and brain fitness.

The role of cholesterol for our brains:

• Acts like a brain antioxidant
• Is a precursor for important, the brain supporting elements such as Vitamin D and the steroid hormones
• serves as an important fuel for the neurons – the neurons themselves are not able to produce enough cholesterol and rely on the supply of cholesterol from the bloodstream.

The cholesterol study.

In the Framingham Heart Study report, the proportion of serum cholesterol and cognitive activities was (in 789 men and 1 105 women) examined to define the relationship between total cholesterol and cognitive performance exactly.

All subjects were at baseline free from dementia and had previously no stroke events and over 16 to 18 years old were observed. Cognitive tests were carried out, these were evaluated every 4 to 6 years.

There are learning ability, memory, attention, concentration, abstract thinking, concept formation and organizational skills investigated, so factors that are impaired in patients with Alzheimer’s.

According to the study, there was a significant positive linear association between total cholesterol and attention/concentration and abstract thinking and in several other cognitive areas.

Participants in which a total cholesterol level of less than 200 has been demonstrated, performed worse in tests from the participants with lower (200-239) and high total cholesterol levels (greater than 240).

At the end is explained in the study results: at a total cholesterol level of less than 200 is a poor performance of the cognitive skills to be expected , the requirements for abstract thinking are limited, also attention/concentration and speech ability.

Through this study, the basic significance of cholesterol is reaffirmed and this is linked to the health of the brain and its functions.