A Perspective on Association between Cholesterol Levels and Mortality in Old Age

One of the physiological indicators explaining mortality risk in older adults is cholesterol level. Generally, it is considered beneficial for health to maintain lower levels of total cholesterol (TC) or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) as well as higher levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). However, since the 1990s, studies have indicated that this perspective may not apply to all age groups. In other words, in older adults, especially in advanced old age, low levels of TC and LDL-C could signal decreased liver cholesterol synthesis, unknown comorbidities, rapid functional decline, and/or worsened health. Therefore, this study raises the question of whether interventions to lower cholesterol levels are appropriate for older adults and anticipates guidelines for older populations on the relationship between blood lipid levels and mortality.