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Should the guidelines for monitoring serum cholesterol levels in the elderly be re-evaluated?

  • Clinical Drug Development
  • Published:
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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 β-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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Sun Health Research Institute, 10515 W. Santa Fe Dr., 85351, Sun City, AZ

    D. Larry Sparks

  2. The Cleo Roberts Center for Clinical Research, Sun Health Research Institute, 10515 W. Santa Fe Dr, 85351, Sun City, AZ

    D. Larry Sparks, Donald J. Connor & Marwan N. Sabbagh

  3. Department of Cardiology, Boswell Memorial Hospital, USA

    Patrick Browne

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  1. D. Larry Sparks
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  2. Donald J. Connor
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  3. Patrick Browne
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  4. Marwan N. Sabbagh
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Behalf of the AD Cholesterol-Lowering Treatment Trial Team

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Correspondence to D. Larry Sparks.

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Larry Sparks, D., Connor, D.J., Browne, P. et al. Should the guidelines for monitoring serum cholesterol levels in the elderly be re-evaluated?. J Mol Neurosci 19, 209–212 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12031-002-0035-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12031-002-0035-1

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