Doctors often give people medicine to lower cholesterol, especially as they get older. High cholesterol is a common health problem.
It can lead to heart disease, stroke, and other serious conditions. Because of this, many people take cholesterol-lowering drugs for many years to protect their health.
The most widely used cholesterol drugs are called statins. Common examples include Lipitor and Crestor. These medicines work by slowing down the body’s production of cholesterol. This helps keep blood vessels clear and lowers the risk of heart attacks. Over the past few decades, statins have helped millions of people live longer and healthier lives.
There is also a newer type of cholesterol medicine called PCSK9 inhibitors. These drugs work in a different way. Instead of reducing how much cholesterol the body makes, they help the body remove cholesterol from the blood more efficiently. This makes them very powerful, especially for people who cannot control their cholesterol with statins alone.
While both types of medicine are very effective, new research suggests that they may also have some unexpected effects on the body.
A recent study led by Kitty Pham, a Ph.D. student at the University of South Australia, looked at how these drugs might affect different parts of the body. The research was published in a scientific journal, adding new insight into how these medications work beyond lowering cholesterol.
The team used genetic data to explore these effects. Genetic information can be thought of as a blueprint for how the body works. By studying this blueprint, scientists can predict how people might respond to certain medicines without waiting many years for long-term studies.
The researchers found that statins may be linked to changes in body weight. Some people who take statins may gain weight or have more body fat over time. The study suggests that this may be related to how the drugs affect hormones in the body.
One hormone that may be affected is testosterone. Testosterone plays an important role in both men and women. It helps control muscle mass, energy levels, and overall wellbeing. Lower levels of this hormone could help explain why some people notice changes in their body after taking statins.
At the same time, the study also found a possible positive effect. Some people taking statins showed an increase in the size of a part of the brain called the hippocampus. This area is very important for memory and emotions.
A larger hippocampus may help protect against conditions like depression and dementia. Although this finding is encouraging, more research is needed to fully understand what it means.
The study also looked at PCSK9 inhibitors. These newer drugs may have effects on the lungs. Some results suggested that they could influence lung function, although the exact impact is still not clear. Scientists say that more research is needed to understand whether this effect is significant or not.
This type of research is important because it helps doctors see the full picture of how medicines affect the body. Cholesterol drugs are still very valuable and often life-saving. However, understanding both their benefits and possible side effects allows doctors to give better advice and care.
For patients, the key message is not to stop taking medication without medical advice. These drugs are important for preventing serious health problems. However, it is also important to pay attention to any changes in your body.
If someone notices weight gain, changes in energy, or breathing differences while taking these medicines, they should talk to their doctor. Small changes can sometimes be managed by adjusting treatment or lifestyle.
Studies like this help improve medical care over time. They allow scientists to learn more about how drugs work and how different people respond to them. This can lead to safer and more personalized treatments in the future.
As science continues to grow, researchers will keep exploring how common medicines affect the body in ways we may not expect. This helps people make better decisions and stay healthier in the long run.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about how eating eggs can help reduce heart disease risk, and herbal supplements could harm your heart rhythm.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how drinking milk affects risks of heart disease and cancer, and results showing strawberries could help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
Copyright © 2026 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
