My take on this is that, while low cholesterol may ASSOCIATED with increased risk of death in the elderly, it doesn't necessarily CAUSE increased risk of death. There may be other factors, perhaps certain illnesses, causing both factors. Association does not imply causation (a helpful little mantra I learned in my undergrad Psych classes).

That, of course, is also true of risk factors for high cholesterol. As we are starting to understand, it is probably not high cholesterol per se that's a risk factor, but a third factor that affects both: for example, insulin resistance.

It's always more complicated than we think it is!

Rachel