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Differential Associations of Lipid Profiles with Dementia and Cardiovascular Disease: Findings from the UK Biobank Cohort
Jong Hee Lee, S. B. Heo, Ha Eun Ryu, Byoungjin Park, Yu‐Jin Kwon. Yonsei Medical Journal, 2025-12-25
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
High LDL-C (≥160 mg/dL) increased AD risk across all groups {hazard ratio (HR): 1.23 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.10-1.38],p<0.001;HR: 1.45 (95% CI: 1.08-1.93),p=0.013;HR: 1.25 (95% CI: 1.10-1.42),p<0.001, respectively}, whereas low LDL-C (<70 mg/dL) showed higher VD risk in those not taking cholesterol-lowering medication [HR: 3.02 (95% CI: 1.73-5.27),p<0.001].Low HDL-C (≤40 mg/dL) was associated with increased AD and VD risk in non-users.High LDL-C (≥160 mg/dL) was associated with increased CVD risk in those taking cholesterol-lowering medication. This study underscores the differential associations of lipid levels with dementia and CVD risk, depending on dementia subtype and cholesterol-lowering medication use.High LDL-C was linked to increased AD risk, whereas low LDL-C was linked to increased VD risk in those not taking cholesterol-lowering medication.
Key findings
- High LDL-C (≥160 mg/dL) increased AD risk across all groups {hazard ratio (HR): 1.23 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.10-1.38],p<0.001;HR: 1.45 (95% CI: 1.08-1.93),p=0.013;HR: 1.25 (95% CI: 1.10-1.42),p<0.001, respectively}, whereas low LDL-C (<70 mg/dL) showed higher VD risk in those not taking cholesterol-lowering medication [HR: 3.02 (95% CI: 1.73-5.27),p<0.001].Low HDL-C (≤40 mg/dL) was associated with increased AD and VD risk in non-users.High LDL-C (≥160 mg/dL) was associated with increased CVD risk in those taking cholesterol-lowering medication.
- This study underscores the differential associations of lipid levels with dementia and CVD risk, depending on dementia subtype and cholesterol-lowering medication use.High LDL-C was linked to increased AD risk, whereas low LDL-C was linked to increased VD risk in those not taking cholesterol-lowering medication.
Why it matters
This study found that high LDL-C was linked to increased Alzheimer's disease risk, while low LDL-C was linked to increased vascular dementia risk in those not taking cholesterol-lowering medication. It suggests that lipid levels have different associations with dementia subtypes depending on medication use, but it does not show that changing lipid levels prevents dementia.
Study details
- Study designcohort study
- Effect sizeHR: 1.45 (95% CI: 1.08-1.93); HR: 1.25 (95% CI: 1.10-1.42); HR: 3.02 (95% CI: 1.73-5.27)
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 48/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a cohort study following people over time. Scored zero for sample size, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Yonsei Medical Journal) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Yonsei Medical Journal: journal h-index 96 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A cohort study following people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 3 / 3 | Effect reported with a statistic (interval, p-value, ratio or similar) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 3 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 3 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Yu‐Jin Kwon: h-index 32 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Yonsei University: institution h-index 777 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41734984) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 48 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.3349/ymj.2025.0046
- PubMed: 41734984
- Original source →
- Free full text: Yonsei Medical Journal →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Lee, J. H., Heo, S. B., Ryu, H. E., Park, B., & Kwon, Y. (2025). Differential Associations of Lipid Profiles with Dementia and Cardiovascular Disease: Findings from the UK Biobank Cohort. Yonsei Medical Journal. https://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2025.0046
Vancouver
Lee JH, Heo SB, Ryu HE, Park B, Kwon Y. Differential Associations of Lipid Profiles with Dementia and Cardiovascular Disease: Findings from the UK Biobank Cohort. Yonsei Medical Journal. 2025. doi:10.3349/ymj.2025.0046. PMID: 41734984.
BibTeX
@article{lee2025-41734984,
author = {Lee, Jong Hee and Heo, S. B. and Ryu, Ha Eun and Park, Byoungjin and Kwon, Yu‐Jin},
title = {{Differential Associations of Lipid Profiles with Dementia and Cardiovascular Disease: Findings from the UK Biobank Cohort}},
journal = {Yonsei Medical Journal},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.3349/ymj.2025.0046},
pmid = {41734984},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2025.0046}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.