Cholesterol

What it is

Cholesterol is a fat carried in the blood by lipoproteins; the LDL fraction drives plaque in arteries and the evidence that lowering it prevents heart attacks and strokes is among the strongest in medicine. Statins remain first-line, with ezetimibe, PCSK9 inhibitors and newer injections for people who need more. Live questions in the coverage are how long older adults should stay on statins, lipoprotein(a) as an inherited risk that current drugs barely touch, and how much diet alone can move the numbers.

This week · Pelacarsen cut lipoprotein(a) sharply in the Lp(a)HORIZON trial but did not reduce heart attacks or strokes, results presented at the American Heart Association meeting showed.

Written by the Alivewire editors from the coverage below, 3d ago. Not medical advice; how the ratings work.