Association Between HDL Cholesterol and Incident Cognitive Impairment in Black and White Adults in The Reasons For Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke Study

Abstract BACKGROUND: Low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) have been associated with incident cognitive impairment (ICI) in some, but not all studies. METHODS: We examine the association between HDL-C and ICI among 18,378 Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study participants without cognitive impairment or stroke at baseline in 2003 to 2007, and who did not have a stroke event during follow-up. RESULTS: Over a median follow-up of 9.6 years, 1,359 participants developed ICI. In fully adjusted models, the RR for ICI was 1.51 (95% CI 1.06, 2.15) in White women and 1.25 (95% CI 0.95, 1.65) in Black women. The association was not statistically significant afrter adjustment for triglycerides. There was no evidence of an association between HDL-C and ICI among White or Black men. CONCLUSIONS: Low HDL-C was associated with a higher risk of ICI in White and Black women in models not including triglycerides.