LIPOPROTEIN(A) PLASMA-LEVELS AND APO(A) ISOFORMS ARE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH LONGEVITY OR DISABILITY IN A SAMPLE OF ITALIAN OCTO-NONAGENARIANS

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of disability and mortal ity in western countries. Lipoprotein(a) [LP(a)] is now, considered an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis, and might consequently b e related to longevity and/or disability. In the context of a study on metabolic and anthropometric parameters in a sample of Italian octo-n onagenarians, Lp(a) and apo(a) isoforms were evaluated. One-hundred an d fifty Italian octo-nonagenarians were classified as free-living or d isabled, according to Katz's index, and compared to 91 healthy control adults. All the study subjects were, recruited from a valley (Veil Vi brata valley) near Teramo, in the central part of Italy. The median Lp (a) concentration of the whole group was 17 mg/dL (range 1-161 mg/dL), which is much higher than the values observed in Caucasian population s. No differences were detected between the octo-nonagenarian group (m edian 16 mg/dL, range 1-126 mg/dL) and the control group (median 19.5 mg/dL, range 1-161 mg/dL) nor between the free-living and the disabled groups. Apo(a) isoforms were similarly distributed among free-living, disabled and control subjects. While our findings suggest that Lp(a) plasma levels and apo(a) isoforms are not factors associated with long evity or disability, we cannot exclude that the low incidence of other major risk factors for atherosclerosis in our free-living octo-nonage narians hampered the full expression of the lipoprotein(a) atherogenic potential, and thus allowed the achievement of a very old age in ct g ood healthy status, even in carriers of high Lp(a) levels or small apo (a) isoforms.