Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 10, 2026

A Familial Hypercholesterolemia Human Liver Chimeric Mouse Model Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Hepatocytes
10:56

A Familial Hypercholesterolemia Human Liver Chimeric Mouse Model Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Hepatocytes

Published on: September 15, 2018

Clinical considerations regarding treatment of hypercholesterolemia in the elderly

D W Bilheimer1

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235.

Atherosclerosis
|December 1, 1991
PubMed

Insights

Elderly patients can benefit from cholesterol-lowering therapy to reduce cardiovascular risk. Treatment decisions should consider physiological age and health status, not just chronological age.

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Cardiology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Hypercholesterolemia therapy reduces coronary heart disease risk in middle-aged men.
  • Current guidelines may lead to many elderly patients being eligible for cholesterol-lowering interventions.
  • The elderly population is diverse, with significant variations in physical, cognitive, and emotional functioning.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the appropriateness and benefits of cholesterol-lowering therapy in elderly patients.
  • To provide guidance on managing hypercholesterolemia in older adults.
  • To emphasize individualized treatment decisions based on physiological rather than chronological age.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current guidelines and evidence for hypercholesterolemia treatment in the elderly.
  • Consideration of factors influencing treatment decisions, including physiological age, comorbidities, and patient expectations.
  • Discussion of dietary and pharmacological interventions for elderly patients.

Main Results:

  • Not all elderly individuals are suitable candidates for cholesterol-lowering therapy.
  • Treatment decisions should be individualized, based on physiological age, health status, and cognitive function.
  • Elderly patients are likely to benefit from cardiovascular risk factor modification.

Conclusions:

  • Elderly patients should not be excluded from cholesterol-lowering therapy solely based on chronological age.
  • Individualized assessment is crucial for determining the benefits of hypercholesterolemia treatment in older adults.
  • Cardiovascular risk factor modification offers significant benefits for the elderly population.

More Related Videos

LDL Cholesterol Uptake Assay Using Live Cell Imaging Analysis with Cell Health Monitoring08:45

LDL Cholesterol Uptake Assay Using Live Cell Imaging Analysis with Cell Health Monitoring

Published on: November 17, 2018

Isolation and Analysis of Plasma Lipoproteins by Ultracentrifugation06:47

Isolation and Analysis of Plasma Lipoproteins by Ultracentrifugation

Published on: January 28, 2021

Related Concept Videos

Lipid-Lowering Drugs: Statins and Miscellaneous Agents01:20

Lipid-Lowering Drugs: Statins and Miscellaneous Agents

Hyperlipidemia, a medical condition often referred to as high cholesterol, is characterized by abnormally elevated levels of lipids in the bloodstream. When present in excess, these lipids, specifically cholesterol and triglycerides, can lead to serious health complications, often involving cardiovascular diseases. Illnesses like atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and pancreatitis have all been linked to untreated hyperlipidemia. This means controlling and regulating cholesterol and triglyceride...
Lipids: Dietary Sources and Requirements01:18

Lipids: Dietary Sources and Requirements

Lipids are an essential component of a balanced human diet. Triglycerides, which make up the majority of dietary lipids, are found in both saturated fats—commonly present in meat, dairy products, and certain tropical plants like coconut, and hydrogenated oils such as margarine and baking shortenings (trans fats)—and unsaturated fats, which are abundant in seeds, nuts, olive oil, and most vegetable oils. The main sources of cholesterol include egg yolks, various meats and organ meats, shellfish,...
Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients01:15

Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients

Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Distribution01:00

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the human body is influenced by several factors, including plasma protein concentration, body composition, blood flow, tissue-protein concentration, and tissue fluid pH. Among these, changes in plasma protein concentration and body composition due to aging significantly affect how drugs are distributed within the body. Specifically, aging is associated with a decrease in albumin levels by about 10% and an increase in α1-acid glycoprotein levels. These alterations are not...
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Metabolism01:18

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Metabolism

Geriatric patients show significant variation in how their bodies process medications, which can change how effective and safe treatments are. The liver is the primary organ where drug metabolism occurs, involving two main types of chemical reactions: phase I and II. Phase I metabolism is driven by the cytochrome P450 enzyme system, which includes key types such as CYP3A, CYP2D6, and CYP2C9. Research indicates that while aging doesn't notably alter the levels or activity of these enzymes, it...
Atherosclerosis III: Management01:26

Atherosclerosis III: Management

Management of atherosclerosis involves an integrated strategy encompassing pharmacological treatment, surgical interventions, lifestyle changes, and nutrition therapy to address the multifactorial nature of the disease.Pharmacological TherapyA cornerstone of atherosclerosis management is the use of pharmacological agents. Statins, such as atorvastatin, are pivotal in inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that catalyzes an initial step in cholesterol synthesis in the liver. This reduction in...