Research article

Lipoprotein profile in older patients with vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease

Giovanni Zuliani^1,2 , Alessandro Ble'¹ , Rosanna Zanca¹ , Maria Rosa Munari³ , Amedeo Zurlo^2,4 , Chella Vavalle¹ , Anna Rita Atti¹ and Renato Fellin^1,2

¹  Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Internal Medicine II, University of Ferrara, Italy

²  Centro Esperto Malattia di Alzheimer-Perusini, Ferrara, Italy

³  Long Term Division, Ca' Foncello Hospital, Treviso, Italy

⁴  Geriatric Division, S. Anna Hospital, Ferrara, Italy

author email corresponding author email

BMC Geriatrics 2001, 1:5doi:10.1186/1471-2318-1-5

Published:	17 December 2001

Abstract

Background

Some alterations of the lipoprotein profile have been associated with cerebrovascular disease. Recently, it has been suggested that cerebrovascular disease might play a role in the pathogenesis of both vascular dementia (VD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Nevertheless, the possible association of dyslipidemias with VD or AD is still a controversial issue.

Methods

We investigated the lipoprotein profile in 100 older patients with vascular dementia (VD; n°: 60) or Late Onset Alzheimer's Disease (LOAD; n°: 40). The patients were compared with 54 community dwelling non-demented older controls.

Results

After adjustment for functional status, blood sedimentation rate, and serum albumin levels, no differences in lipoprotein profile emerged between the three groups, with the exception of HDL-C that was lower in VD compared with controls. Low HDL-C (< 45 mg/dL) was associated with VD (O.R.: 6.52, C.I. 95%: 1.42–30.70 vs controls, and 4.31, C.I. 95%: 0.93–19.82 vs LOAD), after multivariate adjustment. No differences in plasma lipid levels emerged between the three groups after stratification for apo E4 genotype.

Conclusions

In this cross-sectional study low HDL-C levels are associated with VD, but not with LOAD, in a sample of older subjects.