High-density lipoprotein cholesterol in differential diagnosis of senile dementia.

Levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were found to be significantly lower in 5 men with multi-infarct dementia than in 12 men with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type. The large difference between the groups suggests that levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol may be useful in differential diagnosis of these two kinds of senile dementia. The finding also supports the theory that multi-infarct dementia may be a complication of atherosclerosis.