title: Should the guidelines for monitoring serum cholesterol levels in the elderly be re-evaluated?
abstract: Elevated circulating cholesterol can have profound effects on the health of an individual. Such excess cholesterol can promote coronary artery disease, production and accumulation of beta-amyloid in the brain, and possibly Alzheimer's disease (AD). In a clinical trial evaluating the benefit of a cholesterol-lowering drug in the treatment of AD, mean cholesterol levels at baseline among individuals participating in the trial were found to be relatively high. Based on this observation we suggest that cholesterol levels should be actively monitored in the elderly, as many individuals with AD are over 65 years of age and therefore excluded by currently accepted guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ 85351, USA. Larry.Sparks@SunHealth.org
authors.forename: D Larry
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Sparks
authors.forename: Donald J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Connor
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Browne
authors.forename: Marwan N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Sabbagh
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol