Plasmalogens and Death
There is no question that plasmalogens are important for health. But what about having low levels of plasmalogens – just how bad can it be? Dr. Goodenowe has made a lot of graphs in his career and only one graph has actually scared him: the relationship between blood plasmalogen levels and death.
Probability of Dying in 5.3 years
Data from the Rush University Memory and Aging Project. Final dataset: 1262 participants, participants still living since last clinical visit = 896, participants deceased since last visit = 862. The average age at enrollment = 81. Low plasmalogens = 5th percentile +/- 95% CI. High plasmalogens = 95th percentile +/- 95% CI.
Data from the Rush University Memory and Aging Project showed that a 95-year-old with high plasmalogen levels had the same chance of dying in five years as a 65-year-old with low plasmalogen levels. A 95-year-old with high levels had an almost 70 percent chance of living to their 100th birthday whereas a person the same age with low plasmalogen levels had a less than 20 percent chance of living to their 100th birthday. These results were shocking.