Doctors often give people medicine to lower their cholesterol, especially as they get older. These drugs help reduce the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other health problems that become more common with age.
There are a few kinds of cholesterol-lowering medicines. The most well-known are called statins. You might know names like Lipitor or Crestor. These are statins that work by slowing down how much cholesterol the body makes.
Another newer type of drug is called a PCSK9 inhibitor. These medicines work differently—they help the body clear out cholesterol from inside its cells. Both types of medicine can lower cholesterol well, but new research shows they might have some effects people don’t expect.
For example, PCSK9 inhibitors may affect the lungs. Scientists are still not sure what these drugs might do to the lungs over a long period, so more studies are needed.
Statins might also have surprising side effects. Some people who take statins gain weight or develop more body fat. These drugs might also lower testosterone, which is a hormone that is important for both men and women.
However, there is also some good news. One study showed that people taking statins had an increase in the size of a brain area called the hippocampus. The hippocampus helps with memory and emotions. A larger hippocampus might lower the chances of getting memory diseases like dementia or feeling very sad, like in depression.
This study was led by Kitty Pham, a PhD student at the University of South Australia. Her team used genetic data to study how cholesterol medicines affect the body. Genetic information is like a blueprint for your body. By looking at this blueprint, scientists can learn how different people may react to medicines.
For instance, the team found that people with certain genes were more likely to gain weight when using statins. Using genetic data is helpful because studying people over many years costs a lot and takes a long time. Genetic studies give quicker results and clues.
So, what should you do with this information? First, don’t stop taking your medicine without talking to your doctor. These medicines are important and can protect your heart and overall health. But it’s also helpful to learn what else they might be doing in your body.
If you take statins and notice you’ve gained weight, or if you use a PCSK9 inhibitor and have changes in your breathing, talk to your doctor. It may be a side effect of the medicine.
Studies like this help scientists and doctors better understand how medicines work. They give important clues that help improve treatment and allow people to make better choices for their health.
If you care about health, please read studies about the benefits of low-dose lithium supplements, and what we know about egg intake and heart disease.
For more health information, please see recent studies about potatoes and high blood pressure, and results showing 6 best breads for people with heart disease.
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