[Analysis of the correlation between blood lipid levels and cognitive dysfunction in elderly people aged 65 and above].

Abstract

his cross-sectional study employed convenience sampling to enroll 1 994 community-dwelling older adults (aged ≥65 years) undergoing health examinations at a Guangzhou community hospital between January and December 2024, aiming to investigate associations between blood lipid profiles and cognitive impairment. Cognitive function was assessed using the AD8 scale, with demographic characteristics (age, sex, education, occupation), health status (hypertension, diabetes mellitus), and lifestyle factors (smoking/alcohol use) collected via questionnaires. Fasting blood samples quantified triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Propensity score matching (PSM) balanced baseline characteristics between lipid-level groups. Pre-PSM analyses revealed significant intergroup differences: TG groups differed in sex, BMI, alcohol use, hypertension, and self-rated health (P<0.05); TC groups in sex, age, occupation, diabetes, and hypertension; LDL-C groups in sex, age, occupation, diabetes, hypertension, and daily living ability; HDL-C groups in sex, age, education, occupation, BMI, smoking, diabetes, and hypertension. Post-PSM adjustment eliminated baseline differences (P>0.05). Multivariable logistic regression adjusted for demographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors demonstrated that elevated TG levels conferred a 48% reduced risk of cognitive dysfunction [OR (95%CI): 0.52 (0.29-0.94)], whereas TC, LDL-C, and HDL-C showed no significant associations (all P>0.05). These findings suggest an inverse association between higher triglyceride levels and cognitive dysfunction risk in older adults, highlighting TG's potential protective role in cognitive health.