High Cholesterol (Hypercholesterolemia) Symptoms & Signs You Should Know

Memory Loss

The brain is an essential organ that keeps the body functioning properly. Twenty-five percent of the cholesterol produced by the body goes to the brain as it’s an integral component of brain activity. The brain needs its cholesterol supply to form and protect nerve cells which are integral for communication with the rest of the body. In addition, studies have shown that cholesterol is necessary for synaptic plasticity, signaling, learning, and memory.

Cholesterol is necessary for optimal brain function, but too much can cause blockages and possibly fatal strokes and diseases such as Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, and Parkinson’s. Although cholesterol doesn’t pass through the barriers in the brain, high cholesterol levels can affect the circulation of blood to it. If there isn’t enough blood that passes through the organ, it can exhibit diminished performance. Doctors and other experts recommend people suffering from high cholesterol try to lower the level of LDL in their blood if they wish not to have diminished memory and develop a higher risk of acquiring dementia and other degenerative illnesses.