Cholesterol-lowering drugs are some of the most common medicines taken by older adults.
These drugs help prevent heart attacks, strokes, and other serious conditions by keeping cholesterol levels in check. But new research shows they may also have unexpected effects on the body that people should know about.
There are two main types of cholesterol-lowering medicines. The first and most common are called statins, such as Lipitor and Crestor. Statins work by slowing down how much cholesterol your body makes.
The second group is called PCSK9 inhibitors. These are newer drugs that help your body remove extra cholesterol from cells, rather than stopping its production.
Both kinds of medicines are very good at lowering cholesterol. That’s why doctors often recommend them, especially for people at risk of heart disease. But researchers are finding that these drugs might also affect other parts of the body in ways we didn’t expect.
A recent study from the University of South Australia, led by Ph.D. student Kitty Pham, looked into this. The team used genetic data from thousands of people to understand how these medicines might affect health over time.
They used a method called Mendelian randomization, which relies on people’s genes to predict how their bodies might respond to certain drugs.
One important finding was that people who take PCSK9 inhibitors may have a higher risk of developing lung problems. Since these medicines are still new, scientists say more research is needed to confirm this possible risk.
Statins also had some surprising effects. The study found that people taking statins could gain weight or body fat. It also showed that statin users might have lower levels of testosterone, which is an important hormone for both men and women. Changes in testosterone can affect energy, mood, and overall health.
However, not all the news was bad. One interesting discovery was that statins might actually increase the size of the hippocampus. This is a part of the brain that helps control memory and emotions. A larger hippocampus could help protect against problems like dementia or depression, but researchers still need to study this more.
This kind of research helps scientists understand the bigger picture of how these medicines affect the body. Instead of giving people the drugs directly, the study looked at how certain genes act like the drugs and what effects they might have. This method avoids some of the problems of traditional drug studies, like long wait times and high costs.
If you’re taking a statin or PCSK9 inhibitor, there’s no need to panic. These drugs are very effective at protecting your heart. But if you notice side effects like gaining weight, changes in mood or energy, or trouble breathing, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor.
Your doctor can help decide if the medicine you’re taking is still the best choice for you. Everyone’s body is different, and sometimes a small change in treatment can make a big difference. This study reminds us that while medicines can help in many ways, it’s important to stay informed and speak up if something doesn’t feel right.
The study was published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and gives us new information about how cholesterol-lowering drugs might affect more than just our heart.
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.
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