Abstract
Background: Previous research indicates that total cholesterol levels increase with age during young adulthood and middle age and decline with age later in life. This is attributed to changes in diet, body composition, medication use, physical activity, and hormone levels. In the current study we utilized data from the Framingham Heart Study Original Cohort to determine if variations in apolipoprotein E (APOE), a gene involved in regulating cholesterol homeostasis, influence trajectories of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and total: HDL cholesterol ratio from midlife through late life. Methods: Cholesterol trajectories from midlife through late life were modeled using generalized additive mixed models and mixed-effects regression models. Results: APOE e2+ subjects had lower total cholesterol levels, higher HDL cholesterol levels, and lower total: HDL cholesterol ratios from midlife to late life compared to APOE e3 and APOE e4+ subjects. Statistically significant differences in life span cholesterol trajectories according to gender and use of cholesterol-lowering medications were also detected. Conclusion: The findings from this research provide evidence that variations in APOE modify trajectories of serum cholesterol from midlife to late life. In order to efficiently modify cholesterol through the life span, it is important to take into account APOE allele status.
Highlights
There is a negative perception associated with cholesterol among the general public due to the frequently observed relationship between high cholesterol and adverse health events, such as heart attack and stroke [1]
This study presents evidence that serum total cholesterol and total: High density lipoproteins (HDL) cholesterol ratio trajectories from midlife through late life differ according to apolipoprotein E (APOE) allele status
We observed that adults who lived past 90 years of age had higher total cholesterol during late life compared to adults who did not live past 80 or 90 years of age
Summary
There is a negative perception associated with cholesterol among the general public due to the frequently observed relationship between high cholesterol and adverse health events, such as heart attack and stroke [1]. This perception that cholesterol only has a negative impact on health is somewhat misguided because cholesterol is an essential molecule for healthy functioning of the human body. Previous research indicates that total cholesterol levels increase with age during young adulthood and middle age and decline with age later in life This is attributed to changes in diet, body composition, medication use, physical activity, and hormone levels. Study Original Cohort to determine if variations in apolipoprotein E (APOE), a gene involved in regulating cholesterol homeostasis, influence trajectories of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and total: HDL cholesterol ratio from midlife through late life
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