That is really good news about your mother and curcumin. I love curcumin and take it regularly.
Cholesterol is not a cause of death so much as a possible marker for heart disease, but it is way over-emphasized. A big difference between the European countries and here is that they are eating much better quality and more nutient dense food than the junk and processed foods that make up the diet of many Americans. They also do not tend to be as sedentary as we are.