A new study has revealed a surprising link between cholesterol and dementia. According to the study, lowering your cholesterol levels can reduce the risk of dementia development by 26 percent.

The findings of the study were published in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry recently.

According to the researchers, statins can provide an “additional protective effect” against the condition for those people with low levels of bad cholesterol. A report by The Guardian revealed that the number of people living with dementia worldwide is forecast to nearly triple to 153 million by 2050. However, evidence suggests almost half of cases could be prevented or delayed.

Last year, a Lancet report found 7% of cases of dementia were linked to high levels of bad cholesterol in midlife. Now a new study suggests having low levels of LDL-C could reduce the risk of dementia by a quarter.

The study found that statins appeared to offer additional protection against dementia in the presence of low LDL-C levels, The Guardian reported.

The researchers concluded: “Low LDL-C levels … are significantly associated with a reduced risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease-related dementia, with statin therapy providing additional protective effects.”