最新研究表明，中等偏高的胆固醇水平与极长的寿命有关。这颠覆了科学家们之前对胆固醇的看法。几十年来，“坏”胆固醇（低密度脂蛋白胆固醇，LDL）一直被视为心脏健康的主要敌人，标准的建议是“越低越好”。然而，在撒丁岛等长寿社区开展的突破性研究正在颠覆这种说法，科学家们称之为“胆固醇悖论”。来自这些人群的数据表明，低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL）水平中等偏高（约130 mg/dL或更高）的老年人通常比LDL水平较低的老年人寿命更长。LDL并非完全有害，它似乎在老年人体内扮演着重要的生物储备角色，随着身体衰老，它支持着重要的免疫功能、激素生成和细胞修复。这一发现标志着医疗模式向个性化医疗迈出了重要一步，摒弃了千篇一律的健康目标。虽然控制胆固醇对年轻人仍然至关重要，但对于老年人来说，积极降低胆固醇的治疗方案可能需要重新评估，因为这些脂肪为衰老系统提供稳定性和能量。医生们现在更强调整体性的观点，会考虑遗传因素和炎症标志物，而不仅仅是实验室报告上的一个数字。最终，对于老年人来说，维持适中的胆固醇水平可能并非风险因素，而是长寿的关键。来源：Pes, GM 等 (2021)。低密度脂蛋白胆固醇与高龄老人死亡率：来自撒丁岛长寿蓝区的证据。老年医学与老年学国际。New research shows moderately high cholesterol levels are linked to extreme longevity.This upends what scientists previously thought about cholesterol.For decades, "bad" cholesterol (LDL) has been cast as the primary villain of heart health, with standard advice being "the lower, the better." However, groundbreaking research in long-lived communities like Sardinia is turning this narrative on its head with what scientists call a "cholesterol paradox." Data from these populations show that older individuals with moderately higher LDL levels—around 130 mg/dL or more—frequently live longer than those with lower readings. Rather than being purely harmful, LDL appears to serve as a crucial biological reserve in the elderly, supporting vital immune functions, hormone production, and cell repair as the body ages.This discovery marks a significant shift toward personalized medicine, moving away from one-size-fits-all health targets. While managing cholesterol remains essential for younger adults, aggressive lowering treatments in the elderly may need a re-evaluation, as these fats provide stability and energy for aging systems. Doctors are now emphasizing a more holistic view, considering genetics and inflammation markers rather than just a single number on a lab report. Ultimately, for those in their golden years, maintaining moderate cholesterol levels might not be a risk factor, but a biological key to reaching the age of ninety and beyond.source: Pes, G. M., et al. (2021). Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and mortality in the oldest old: Evidence from the Sardinian longevity Blue Zone. Geriatrics and Gerontology International.
