Cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood
Patients with high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood show less degeneration of brain white matter, which contradicts the widespread cholesterol is harmful to health, as demonstrated from a study conducted by neurologists of the Hospital del Mar in Barcelona, published in the journal ‘Stroke’.
The general population of elderly with hypertension usually experience difficulties in the circulation of small cerebral blood vessels, indicating a degeneration of the white matter, indicating a higher risk of developing cognitive impairment or dementia, and reduced ability to recover after suffering a stroke.
The aim of this study, developed in collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston, was establishing what impact does the presence of cholesterol and triglyceride, the main body fat on the degree of impairment of brain white matter in patients with cerebral stroke.
Therefore, we analyzed a total of 1,135 patients – 504 Hospital del Mar and MGH 631 -, and measured the severity of the damage that had to correlate with the presence or absence of high cholesterol.
The results obtained in both centers coincide in detecting patients with high cholesterol were less degeneration of brain white matter. “We have seen that cholesterol may have a beneficial role in the small cerebral blood vessels,” said neurologist at the Hospital del Mar Jordi Jiménez Conde.
The discovery of widespread clashes with the highest cholesterol that is harmful to health. “It is true that high cholesterol is a cardiovascular risk factor and can lead us to suffer a stroke, but has also been observed that once one has suffered a stroke, cholesterol contributes to the recovery of damaged tissue and improves prognosis, “said the expert.
She added: “Not everything is black or white, cholesterol is bad for some things, but there is a beneficial role.” Jiménez encouraged further research to better understand how cholesterol acts.
He also noted that “the results invite us to reconsider the use of aggressive treatment to lower cholesterol.” “We certainly advocate that they have to reduce high cholesterol levels, but perhaps the balance of risks and benefits cease to be favorable if we reduce to extremely low levels,” hammered.