Researchers of a new study found that people with unbalanced or bad cholesterol may be at a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease.

The new study conducted by UC Davis researchers found that people with unbalanced cholesterol levels have higher levels of amyloid plaque deposition in the brain that may increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease, according to a press release.

"Our study shows that both higher levels of HDL-good-and lower levels of LDLD-bad-cholesterol in the bloodstream are associated with lower levels of amyloid plaque deposits in the brain," lead researcher Bruce Reed, an associate director of the UC Davis Alzheimer's Disease Center said in the press release. "Unhealthy patterns of cholesterol could be directly causing the higher levels of amyloid known to contribute to Alzheimer's, in the same way that such patterns promote heart disease."

For the study, researchers looked into 74 males and female participants who were all 70 years or older. The study also included three people with mild dementia, while 33 people were cognitively normal. About 38 had mild cognitive impairment.

An analysis of PET scans showed that people with higher fasting levels of LDL and lower levels of HDL were both associated with a greater brain amyloid.

Researchers note that the findings support cholesterol treatments in those suffering from memory loss and may be at an increased risk for cardiovascular health.

"It also suggests a method of lowering amyloid levels in people who are middle aged, when such build-up is just starting," Reed said. "If modifying cholesterol levels in the brain early in life turns out to reduce amyloid deposits late in life, we could potentially make a significant difference in reducing the prevalence of Alzheimer's, a goal of an enormous amount of research and drug development effort."