Cholesterol-lowering drugs are often given to people to help prevent heart disease, stroke, and other serious health problems.
These drugs are especially common for older adults. They help keep blood vessels healthy and lower the chances of dangerous events like heart attacks.
The most widely used cholesterol drugs are called statins. You may have heard of them by brand names like Lipitor or Crestor. Statins work by slowing down how much cholesterol the body makes.
There’s also a newer kind of drug called PCSK9 inhibitors. These don’t stop the body from making cholesterol. Instead, they help the body remove extra cholesterol that’s already there. These newer drugs are often used when statins don’t work well enough.
Researchers recently studied how these drugs affect not just cholesterol levels, but other parts of our health. The results were both interesting and surprising.
The study found that people taking PCSK9 inhibitors might have a slightly higher chance of developing lung problems. Since these drugs are still new, scientists don’t yet know all of their long-term effects.
Statins have been used for many years and are generally safe. But some people taking statins may gain weight or have more body fat. Others might have lower levels of a hormone called testosterone, which is important for both men and women.
On the positive side, researchers found that statins might actually help make the brain healthier. They found that statins may increase the size of the hippocampus. This part of the brain helps with memory and emotions. A bigger hippocampus could protect people from memory loss, depression, and even dementia.
These findings came from research led by Kitty Pham, a PhD student at the University of South Australia. Her team used a new method called genetic analysis.
Instead of doing a regular drug test, they looked at people’s genes. Genes are like instructions that tell our bodies how to work. By studying genetic patterns, scientists can guess how drugs might affect different parts of the body.
This method is helpful because regular drug trials take a lot of time and money. It’s also hard to study long-term effects in normal trials. Looking at genetic data can give quicker answers.
So, what should you do with this information?
If you take statins or PCSK9 inhibitors, don’t stop without talking to your doctor. These drugs have helped many people avoid serious health problems. But it’s always good to stay informed. If you notice weight gain, mood changes, or breathing problems, mention them to your doctor. These could be side effects worth watching.
Medicines can be life-saving, but they can also have side effects. Your doctor can help find the right balance. The goal is to keep you healthy and feeling good.
This study shows that even medicines we’ve used for a long time can have surprising effects. It was published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. As more research is done, we’ll keep learning how to use these medicines in the best and safest ways.
If you care about heart disease, please read studies that herbal supplements could harm your heart rhythm, and how eating eggs can help reduce heart disease risk.
For more health information, please see recent studies that apple juice could benefit your heart health, and results showing yogurt may help lower the death risks in heart disease.
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