New Wisdom About High Cholesterol Treatment for Adults Aged 80 and Older

A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society explored whether current triglyceride-level guidelines are sensible for individuals 80 and older, reports ScienceDaily . The researchers investigated connections between triglyceride levels and the ability to conduct daily self-care activities, cognitive function, and frailty. They also considered whether triglyceride levels affected mortality rates in a group of 930 Chinese adults 80 or older. According to the results, among the oldest study participants, having a higher triglyceride level was associated with a reduced risk of cognitive decline, less of a reduction in the ability to perform daily tasks, less frailty, and lower risk for death. These outcomes challenge current thinking that having high triglyceride levels is a risk factor for age-related chronic disease and death and suggests that after the age of 80, taking medication to lower cholesterol may have little, if any, benefit.