As we get older, doctors often prescribe medications to help lower cholesterol and protect against heart disease and other health problems.
The most common drugs for this are statins, such as Lipitor and Crestor. These medicines work by reducing how much cholesterol your body makes.
There’s also a newer type of cholesterol drug called PCSK9 inhibitors. These help the body remove more cholesterol from the cells.
While both types of medications are effective, recent research has found some unexpected side effects. For example, PCSK9 inhibitors may cause some lung-related problems, although scientists still need to study these effects over a longer period of time.
Statins have also been linked to weight gain, increased body fat, and lower testosterone levels in some people.
Interestingly, statins may also have some surprising benefits for the brain. A study found that people taking statins had larger hippocampus sizes—the part of the brain that helps with memory and emotions. This could mean a lower risk of dementia and depression.
This research was led by Kitty Pham, a Ph.D. student at the University of South Australia. Her team used genetic data to study how different people might respond to cholesterol-lowering drugs. By looking at genetic markers, researchers can predict how a person might react to a drug—without needing long and expensive clinical trials.
Traditional clinical trials are still the gold standard for testing medications, but they take a lot of time and money. Genetic studies are a helpful tool for spotting possible long-term effects more quickly. This kind of research gives us a better picture of how medications work and who they might affect the most.
If you’re taking cholesterol-lowering medication, these findings don’t mean you should stop. Instead, it’s a reminder to stay informed and talk to your doctor if you notice any changes. Medicines are meant to help us, but every person is different. That’s why it’s important to work with your healthcare provider to find the best treatment for you.
This study also shows how we’re moving toward more personalized medicine. By using genetic information, doctors may be able to choose medications that offer the most benefit and the fewest side effects for each person.
In the end, this kind of research helps improve healthcare by giving us more detailed knowledge about how drugs work. It helps doctors make better decisions, and it gives patients more confidence and control over their health.
If you care about heart health, please read studies that Changing blood pressure readings is a hidden sign of heart disease and common type 2 diabetes drugs may raise heart risk.
For more about heart health, please read studies about root cause of heart rhythm disorders and Warning signal from the kidneys can predict future heart failure risk.
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