Cholesterol

It's generally considered a good thing to have elevated levels of HDL cholesterol, also commonly referred to as "good" cholesterol. But new research indicates that when those HDL levels climb too high, dementia could be an unwanted side effect.

Researchers presented the interim results of a clinical trial using a single infusion of gene-editing technology to permanently switch off LDL cholesterol production in people with a genetic condition that elevates levels of the ‘bad’ cholesterol.

Researchers have conducted the first human trials of a new drug, lepodisiran, and found that a single injection reduced lipoprotein(a) – a ‘bad’ cholesterol with a genetic basis and no available treatments – to undetectable levels for almost a year.

Researchers have identified a previously unknown step in the process by which dietary cholesterol is absorbed from the intestine into the bloodstream. The newfound pathway provides a potential new target for treating high cholesterol.

While statin drugs are good at controlling plaques in blood vessels, they can't eliminate them once they are established. But researchers may have just found a way to blast the circulatory system clean using a common nutrient found in many foods.

Researchers have developed the world’s first oral drug to target a form of cholesterol that has previously been untreatable and is largely caused by genetics, making it difficult to control by way of exercise, diet or other lifestyle factors.

For the first time, scientists have discovered how a change in the ACTA2 gene can cause heart disease in otherwise adults who have normal cholesterol levels and no other risk factors. This could lead to early detection of an often silent killer.

High levels of a common genetic ‘bad’ cholesterol protein has again turned up in the blood of coronary heart disease (CHD) patients. While one in five of us have this gene variant that can sneakily spike cholesterol levels, medical help is on the way.

High cholesterol levels are a common and potentially deadly health problem, but a new drug could help more people manage the condition. An experimental pill has been shown to reduce levels of “bad” cholesterol by 60% in a phase 2 clinical trial.

A new study supported by the National Institutes of Health questions the belief that high levels of "good" cholesterol can decrease a person's risk of heart attack. The findings suggest the assumption may not hold true for people of all racial backgrounds.

A new study has furthered our knowledge of the relationship between gut health and Alzheimer's, by demonstrating what's described as a clear genetic link between the two while also pointing to the potential for new treatments.

For people with coronary heart disease, regular monitoring of bloodstream cholesterol levels is essential – and it typically requires the drawing of blood samples. A new system, however, is claimed to provide the same data simply by imaging the skin of the hand.