Triglycerides May Provide Clues to Those at Risk for Alzheimer's Disease

A study published in Neurology found that persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer's disease (AD) were more likely to have reduced concentrations of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid-containing triglycerides (PUTGs) than cognitively normal older adults, reports Neurology Today . Lower PUTG levels also tended to correspond with other known biomarkers for AD, including findings on magnetic resonance imaging brain scans. This association was very strong in participants exhibiting the apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) gene, which is a strong risk factor for AD. These findings do not specify a cause and effect between triglycerides composition and MCI or AD risk, but they do suggest a new investigative channel for researchers trying to understand the underlying mechanisms of AD in order to develop new therapies. University of Southern California Professor Hussein Yassine said this research raises the question of whether people at risk for AD because of APOE4 status may benefit from boosting omega-3 levels in their blood. APOE4 carriers may in fact metabolize omega-3 fatty acids faster, which could account for the lower levels of PUTGs in their serum and elevate the risk of AD.