Physician Update: AHA Special Edition
Read more articles from our most relevant research presented at the 2024 AHA Scientific Sessions.
Clinical Heart and Vascular Center
Associations Between High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Efflux and Brain Gray Matter Volume
By Wanpen Vongpatanasin, M.D., FACC, FAHA
Director of Hypertension Section
By John Giacona, Ph.D., PA-C, CHC
Assistant Professor of Applied Clinical Research and Internal Medicine
Using data from the Dallas Heart Study, we identified a novel role of HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) function in maintaining gray matter volume in the brain, which is important for cognitive function in middle-aged adults.
Previous research has shown conflicting evidence regarding the concentration of HDL-C in development of dementia or brain atrophy. However, concentration of HDL-C alone might not adequately reflect the protective potential of HDL against these conditions. In addition, HDL-C particles exist in many sizes, which may have different implications in their function.
As presented at #AHA24, we found that higher HDL-C function (known as cholesterol efflux function) is associated with higher gray matter volume after accounting for other factors that might impact the brain. We also found that only small HDL particles – but not larger particles or total particle concentrations – are linked to higher gray matter brain volume, suggesting that only a certain group of HDL-C might be beneficial to the brain.
“We also found that only small HDL particles – but not larger particles or total particle concentrations – are linked to higher gray matter brain volume, suggesting that only a certain group of HDL-C might be beneficial to the brain.”
UT Southwestern preventive cardiologist Anand Rohatgi, M.D., M.S.C.S., measured cholesterol efflux function in Dallas Heart Study participants and demonstrated that cholesterol efflux was a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease events beyond HDL-C concentration alone. Our study has extended the potential beneficial role of HDL-C efflux function to the brain. However, additional studies are needed to understand exactly how small HDL particles, which can cross the blood brain barrier, may have a beneficial role in maintaining brain health.
