Doctors often prescribe cholesterol-lowering drugs to help people stay healthy as they get older.
These medicines are mainly used to reduce the risk of heart problems, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
They are trusted and commonly used around the world.
The most popular type of cholesterol-lowering medicine is called statins. You might know some of their brand names, like Lipitor or Crestor.
Statins work by slowing down the body’s cholesterol production. They’ve been around for a long time and are widely used.
There is also a newer group of medicines called PCSK9 inhibitors.
These drugs work differently—they help remove cholesterol that is already inside the body’s cells.
PCSK9 inhibitors are not as well known as statins, but they’re becoming more common for people who need extra help controlling their cholesterol.
While both of these drug types are good at lowering cholesterol, new research shows they might also come with some surprising side effects.
For PCSK9 inhibitors, scientists are looking into how these drugs might affect the lungs over time. Because these drugs haven’t been used for very long, researchers don’t yet fully understand their long-term effects, and they say more studies are needed.
Statins have their own unexpected side effects. Some research suggests that people taking statins may gain weight or develop more body fat. This could be an issue for those who are already trying to manage their weight.
Another possible effect is a drop in testosterone, which is a hormone important for both men and women. Low testosterone can affect energy levels, mood, and other parts of health.
But it’s not all bad news. Researchers also found that statins may help grow the hippocampus—a part of the brain that is important for memory and emotions. A larger hippocampus might reduce the chances of problems like depression or dementia as people age.
These findings come from a study led by Kitty Pham, a Ph.D. student at the University of South Australia. Her team used genetic information to study the effects of these medicines. Genetic data works like a guidebook for the body. It helped the researchers see how people with different genes reacted to the medications.
This approach is useful because it’s hard to run long-term clinical trials for every medicine. Clinical trials are expensive and take a long time. But by using genetic data, scientists can find out how medicines might affect people in the long run.
For example, Pham’s team found that people with certain genetic traits were more likely to gain weight when taking statins. This method helps researchers discover side effects that might not show up right away during normal drug testing.
If you’re taking a cholesterol-lowering drug, there’s no need to worry. Don’t stop taking your medication without talking to your doctor. These drugs are important tools for staying healthy, and doctors prescribe them based on your personal needs. They also monitor your health to make sure the medicine is working well for you.
If you notice changes like weight gain or trouble breathing, talk to your doctor. They can help figure out if it’s related to your medication and suggest the best steps to take.
This new study reminds us that even helpful medicines can have side effects. By learning more about how these drugs work in different people, doctors and scientists can continue to improve treatments and help patients make smart decisions about their health.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about why light-to-moderate drinking is linked to better heart health and reconsidering the long-term use of high blood pressure beta blockers after a heart attack.
For more about heart health, please read studies about heart disease hidden and essential vitamins for heart health: a guide to a healthy heart.
The study was published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
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