The Surprising Link Between Cholesterol & Memory Loss
By Dr. Kevin Passero
As we age, we tend to become increasingly forgetful and absent-minded. These inevitable “senior moments” that come with aging can be worrisome and difficult to accept.
It's important to understand that certain lifestyle choices, such as diet, can play a significant role in the mental deterioration process – especially when it comes to the link between cholesterol and memory loss.
In this article, I explore this link and provide some guidance on how you can prevent and even reverse the damage high cholesterol can cause to your brain.
Why High Cholesterol Can Damage Brain Health
Cholesterol is an essential component of our body, necessary for producing hormones, building cell walls and aiding in digestion. But when levels of LDL cholesterol get too high, it can result in damage to the vascular system and ultimately compromise heart and brain function.
High LDL levels also correlate with an increased prevalence of brain plaques and tangles, which are hallmarks of age-related cognitive decline.
As we age, our blood vessels can narrow and stiffen, becoming less efficient at delivering oxygen to our brain. High levels of LDL cholesterol can accelerate this process by promoting damage to the arteries and triggering the formation of plaque by restricting the supply of blood and nutrients to brain cells. This can ultimately lead to cognitive issues such as memory lapses.
In addition, cholesterol can contribute to the buildup of damaging proteins in the brain, leading to inflammation and oxidative stress - both of which are known to hasten cognitive decline.
What to do to Maintain Healthy Cholesterol Levels and Protect Your Brain
The first step is adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, a balanced diet, and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
A healthy diet is particularly critical. Foods that are high in soluble fiber like oatmeal, beans, nuts and fruits can help lower LDL cholesterol levels, as can lean proteins, omega-3 fatty acids, and other healthy fats found in foods like olive oil, avocados and fatty fish. Avoiding highly processed foods, sugary drinks, and other overly processed foods can also reduce cholesterol levels and promote brain health.
Another way to combat high LDL cholesterol levels is through targeted nutritional supplementation, with citrus bergamot being the “first line of defense” against elevated cholesterol which I recommend to my patients.
Citrus bergamot extract is rich in bioactive compounds such as flavonoids and polyphenols, which are believed to contribute to its cholesterol-lowering properties and other health benefits.
Citrus bergamot has been shown to help lower LDL “bad” (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol while increasing “good” HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, contributing to improved overall cardiovascular health.
Citrus bergamot’s ability to boost HDL is unique and valuable, since although HDL plays an important role in removing the dangerous form of cholesterol from your blood stream, it can be difficult to target.
In a landmark scientific study, participants took 1,000 mg of a patented citrus bergamot extract called Bergamonte® daily, producing these impressive results in just 30 days:**
• Total cholesterol dropped 29%
• LDL cholesterol plunged 36%
• Beneficial HDL climbed 40%
How It Works: Researchers have found that citrus bergamot’s flavonoids improve cholesterol by several mechanisms including inhibiting the HMG-CoA reductase enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis, which then leads to a decrease in cholesterol production. Furthermore, citrus bergamot helps increase the ability of the liver to remove LDL cholesterol from the blood and inhibits LDL oxidation.*
Durable HEART® features three potent nutrients for optimal heart health including an extra-strength 1,000 mg dose of patented Bergamonte® citrus bergamot.
To learn more about Durable HEART, click here.
Targeted Nutrition Specifically for Your Brain
Whether you’re experiencing age-related cognitive decline due to high cholesterol or for other reasons, there are clinically validated herbs and nutrients that are shown to help boost your memory, focus and concentration while promoting long-term brain health.
Durable MEMORY® includes a powerful combination of six of the world’s most extensively studied and effective natural nootropics, which are nutrients shown to boost brain function and features:
• Synapsa®, a patented bacopa extract which has been proven to significantly improve multiple areas of cognitive function including faster learning, enhanced memory and improved mental performance—with noticeable improvements seen within just 90 days.*
• Phosphatidyl Serine (also known as PS), which is clinically shown to support cognitive function including both short-term and long-term memory as well as the ability to learn and recall information.*
In my clinic, I found that whether patients are experiencing an age-related decline in short-term memory or simply interested in improving their mental performance, this clinically validated combination of herbs and nutrients helps boost memory, focus and concentration.
To learn more about Durable MEMORY, click here.
