Serum cholesterol (SC), HDL SC and triglycerides were measured in 303 senile patients aged 75-89 and 77 long-livers aged over 90. The concentrations obtained were low in healthy long-livers compared to senile subjects. SC, triglycerides and atherogenic index reached the highest values in senile subjects and long-livers with coronary heart disease and abnormal cerebral circulation. Lower levels of HDL SC appeared in the same diseases in senile males and female long-livers against healthy subjects of the relevant age group.