“Good” cholesterol may help preserve healthy brains in mid-life adults, according to a recent study in the Journal of Clinical Medicine. The research on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or HDL, may give doctors and patients more insight into factors that affect cognitive health in aging adults.
This is the first study to investigate a potential link between HDL function and brain volume, according to John Giacona, Ph.D., assistant professor of applied clinical research and internal medicine in the School of Health Professions at UT Southwestern.
Journalists (and editors) must be cautious when reporting on studies like this, particularly for a consumer-focused audience. Make sure to fully and accurately explain the various concepts and nuances involved in existing and novel Alzheimer’s studies. (Dark chocolate, red wine and coffee studies come to mind).
Why this matters
Investigators established that a specific type of HDL cholesterol — known as small-particle HDL, which can cross the blood-brain barrier — could be a potential marker for people at risk of developing cognitive decline. The finding “has extended the potential beneficial role of HDL cholesterol efflux function to the brain,” Giacona said.
Does this automatically mean people with higher levels of “good” cholesterol are protected from dementia? No, it is way too early to make those kinds of claims.
Researchers are still learning how small HDL particles may be beneficial in maintaining brain health. Other studies counter some of these findings. Yet, I can already envision some of the headlines.
Connecting the dots between conditions
An average consumer may not know why HDL is considered “good” cholesterol or recall how it impacts our bodies. (As a refresher, HDL helps remove other forms of cholesterol from the bloodstream. Higher HDL cholesterol is linked to a lower risk of heart disease. Heart disease is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease). It’s very easy to grab readers with sexy or not-quite-accurate headlines when reporting on clinical studies. However, remember that nine in 10 adults struggle with health literacy, according to the Center for Health Care Strategies.
Alzheimer’s disease, which affects nearly 7 million people in the U.S., is one of the most feared health conditions. Attitude may impact views on risk reduction messages and interventions to reduce their risk factors, according to the 2023 National Plan to Reduce Alzheimer’s report.
“It’s easy to pull readers in with catchy or intriguing headlines about a new study, but science rarely changes based on a single study,” said Tara Haelle, independent journalist and AHCJ’s health beat leader for infectious disease.
“Reporting on research requires reporters to explain important context about the issue and the nuances and limitations of the study itself,” Haelle advises journalists to break down the study methodology and explain why and what each aspect of the findings means.
Another crucial point for journalists to stress is that many factors, both clinical and non-clinical, affect the risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Research is continually evolving, and results that seem promising today could be contradicted by another study. Science is constantly seeking new ways to study Alzheimer’s, but decades of work have yet to find a cure, or even viable, low-risk treatments. With skepticism about science and health increasing, journalists must properly frame Alzheimer’s studies in their reporting.
Resources
- Alzheimer’s Disease Facts & Figures 2024, Alzheimer’s Association.
- National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease (2024 update), Department of Health & Human Services.
- Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease, Wake Forrest University.
- Tip sheet offers guidance on reading and making sense of scientific studies, by Tara Haelle, AHCJ.
- Both High and Low HDL Cholesterol Tied to Increased Risk of Dementia, Boston University School of Public Health.
