All articles tagged with #lpa
A new JAMA study finds measuring apolipoprotein B (apoB) in cholesterol screening may more accurately identify who needs treatment to prevent heart attacks and strokes than LDL or non-HDL cholesterol. The findings align with updated guidelines that emphasize additional tests, like Lp(a), for assessing risk, and suggest apoB can reveal cardiovascular risk even when LDL appears normal.
The ACC/AHA's updated cholesterol guidelines urge starting prevention early, expand testing beyond traditional cholesterol (including Lp(a) and ApoB) and use risk tools like CAC scanning to tailor treatment. They emphasize lifestyle first—plant-based, whole foods, limited ultra-processed foods, regular exercise, stress management, and adequate sleep—with routine cholesterol checks for adults 19+ and childhood screening for those with family history. While lifestyle changes are central, medications such as statins may be necessary for some, and supplements are not a reliable shortcut. Prevention is a lifelong commitment.
Dr. Jennifer Roelands argues that standard wellness panels miss key midlife risks for women and recommends five essential tests: ApoB and Lp(a) for cardiovascular risk; fasting insulin for metabolic health; vitamin D and ferritin for nutrient status; a full thyroid panel (TSH, free T3/T4, antibodies); and free/total testosterone with SHBG to inform treatment decisions. These tests are not usually part of routine panels but enable proactive, precision care during perimenopause; bring this list to your next appointment or order the tests yourself if necessary.
The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association issued new cholesterol guidelines: start screening earlier, add a one-time Lp(a) test, use a smarter PREVENT risk calculator, lower LDL targets (below 100 for healthy, under 70 for medium risk, under 55 for high risk), and expand treatment options with newer meds alongside lifestyle changes. The piece also links health stewardship to Jewish law, outlining six mitzvot that emphasize protecting life and well-being and urging individual doctor-guided plans.
Updated ACC/AHA cholesterol guidelines emphasize earlier detection and personalized risk assessment, with more aggressive LDL-C lowering and a new PREVENT risk calculator for 10- and 30-year risk starting at age 30; recommend one-time Lp(a) testing, consider risk enhancers and coronary calcium scoring to tailor therapy, set LDL targets of <100 mg/dL for most, <70 mg/dL for intermediate risk, and <55 mg/dL for high risk, and expand therapies beyond statins (ezetimibe, bempedoic acid, PCSK9 inhibitors); childhood screening for familial hypercholesterolemia is advised, while lifestyle remains foundational.
Lp(a) is a genetically determined cholesterol particle linked to higher risk of heart attack and stroke that standard tests miss. Lifestyle and most cholesterol meds don’t meaningfully lower Lp(a); newer gene-silencing therapies show large reductions in Lp(a) in trials and could reduce events if confirmed. Testing is often advised for those with a family history or unexplained risk, but for now heart health still hinges on managing LDL cholesterol, blood pressure, smoking, activity, and diet.
Novartis, Amgen and Eli Lilly are racing to prove that lowering Lipoprotein(a) can prevent heart attacks. They’re in late-stage trials of pelacarsen, olpasiran and lepodisiran, which have achieved >80% reductions in Lp(a) so far, but it’s unclear if this lowers events; readouts are due mid-year for Novartis, 2027 for Amgen, and 2029 for Lilly. A successful outcome could unlock a multi-billion-dollar market—about $5.6 billion annually by 2032—though doctors say screening for Lp(a) remains uncommon and uptake will depend on solid outcome data.
Cardiologists say the only reliable way to know if cholesterol is too high is a blood test. High LDL and low HDL increase heart-disease risk, and new guidelines call for regular lipid screening—from childhood through adulthood (every five years) and measuring lipoprotein(a) at least once. Most people have no early symptoms, so routine testing plus healthy lifestyle choices (diet, exercise, no smoking) are key; signs like chest pain or shortness of breath usually appear only after disease has progressed.
The 2026 ACC/AHA dyslipidemia guidelines call for earlier, more personalized cholesterol screening (even in children for familial hypercholesterolemia), broader risk assessment including genetic factors like Lp(a), and introduce a new PREVENT calculator to estimate 10- and 30-year cardiovascular risk, with expanded treatment options and lower LDL targets to prevent heart disease decades down the line.
The 2026 cholesterol guidelines from the ACC and AHA expand risk assessment to ages 30–79, emphasize lifetime risk, restore explicit LDL targets (<100 mg/dL for low risk, <70 mg/dL for higher risk, <55 mg/dL for very high risk), add one-time Lp(a) testing to uncover genetic risk, and encourage earlier lifestyle changes and targeted therapies to prevent heart disease.
New cholesterol guidelines urge starting screening in your 30s and using lifetime risk (via the PREVENT calculator) alongside 10-year risk to guide treatment. Targets are LDL <100 mg/dL for most, <70 mg/dL for high-risk individuals, and <55 mg/dL for those with existing heart disease, with statins considered earlier; the guidance also recommends apoB testing after LDL goals and universal lipoprotein(a) testing once in adulthood, plus calcium scoring for those at borderline/intermediate risk, all aiming to reduce lifetime LDL exposure and prevent cardiovascular events.
New cardiovascular guidelines urge starting lipid management as early as age 30, using the PREVENT risk calculator and lower LDL targets (under 100 mg/dL for lower-risk, under 70 mg/dL for high risk, and under 55 mg/dL for very high risk). They endorse lifestyle changes, consider coronary calcium scans and biomarkers like Lp(a) and ApoB to guide therapy, and include statins and, in some cases, PCSK9 inhibitors as part of a broader prevention strategy.
Researchers are nearing the completion of clinical trials for five experimental drugs aimed at lowering lipoprotein(a), a genetic particle linked to artery clogging and heart disease, with results expected in 2026. These drugs could significantly impact the treatment of a condition affecting about 20% of the global population, though cost and public awareness remain challenges.
A Staten Island cardiologist highlights the importance of testing for lipoprotein(a) or Lp(a), a genetic cholesterol marker that increases the risk of heart attack and stroke, which is often overlooked and not affected by diet or exercise, emphasizing early detection and management for better heart health.
A new pill called Obicetrapib significantly lowers 'bad' LDL cholesterol and lipoprotein(a) levels in just 12 weeks, offering a promising treatment for high-risk heart patients, with results showing over 30% reduction and good tolerability.