Do statins slow aging?

Researchers have found that statins, a class of drugs widely used for lowering cholesterol, may also slow down the process of human aging, according to a study published online in The FASEB Journal.

Are statins anti aging?

Recent evidence suggests that the anti-aging effects of statins are linked to their ability to inhibit telomere shortening by reducing either directly and indirectly oxidative telomeric DNA damage, as well as by a telomere capping proteins dependent mechanism.

What is the average age to start statins?

The current model recommends statins for older adults around 63 with a lower low-density lipoprotein or “bad” cholesterol. In comparison, the new model recommends statins for adults an average age of 55 with higher cholesterol levels.

What are the side effects of long term use of statins?

Do statin drugs prolong life?

As one of the best-studied medications in randomized clinical trials, statins are proven to extend life and reduce the number of heart attacks and strokes, even among individuals with normal cholesterol levels.

Statin Misinformation: Mayo Clinic Radio

What are the two downsides of taking statins?

The most common side effects of statins include nausea, vomiting, and aches and pains in the muscles and joints. You may also have constipation, gas, or diarrhea. Most people are able to take statins without experiencing side effects, and the most common side effects of statins are mild.

Why do doctors push statins?

Statins are the go-to treatment option for lowering cholesterol levels and risk of cardiovascular complications, like heart attack and stroke. Statins work by slowing down cholesterol production and enabling the liver to remove low-density lipoproteins (LDL), or “bad cholesterol,” from the bloodstream.

Do statins do more harm than good?

Researchers warn that unless a patient is at high risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke, statins may cause more harm than good'.

Why you should not take statin?

Their review found statins decrease energy and fitness, and increase fatigue and sleep problems. They also found that statins may increase the risk of muscle aches and pains, kidney and liver problems, bleeding in the brain, and type 2 diabetes.

Does statins cause dementia?

Although this particular study found no link between statins and dementia, the research into statins and brain-related effects over all is best described as inconsistent, says Dr. JoAnn Manson, chief of the Division of Preventive Medicine at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Do statins cause weight gain?

As with many medications, statins may cause side effects, including digestive problems, muscle pain and weakness, and cognitive dysfunction. Another side effect that's been linked to statins is weight gain.

Is there a natural substitute for statins?

Natural alternatives to statins include soy products like tofu and edamame. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 35 million Americans have high LDL, also known as bad cholesterol. This greatly increases your risk for heart disease and stroke.

Should all over 50s take statins?

Everyone over the age of 50 should be given statins because the “cholesterol-busting” drugs reduce the risk of a heart attack even in healthy people, according to the Daily Telegraph and many other papers today.

How long can you stay on statins?

You usually have to continue taking statins for life because if you stop taking them, your cholesterol will return to a high level within a few weeks. If you forget to take your dose, do not take an extra one to make up for it.

What percentage of the population take statins?

The use of statins increased from 18% to 26%. By 2011–2012, 93% of adults using a cholesterol-lowering medication used a statin. Cholesterol-lowering medication use increased with age, from 17% of adults aged 40–59 to 48% of adults aged 75 and over.

Do the French take statins?

Nevertheless, seven million French patients take statins, often for longer periods than they do in other countries, at a cost of €2bn a year to the state.

Do statins affect eyesight?

The most highly reported ocular adverse events associated with statins were blurred vision (48.4%) and visual impairment (25.7%). Results from logistic regression indicated that the ocular problems formed a greater proportion of the adverse events for subjects taking atorvastatin (2.1%).

What vitamins should not be taken with statins?

Niacin, vitamin B3, is a supplement and prescription medication that can interact with atorvastatin. The interaction can increase the chance of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. The risk of an interaction is typically with higher doses of niacin (> 1 gram per day).

Do statins cause Alzheimer's?

Statins use was associated with dementia risk decrement (relevant risk [RR]: 0.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80–0.89). Subgroup analysis showed statins use was associated with Alzheimer disease (AD) (RR: 0.81; 95% CI, 0.73–0.89) and non-AD dementia (RR: 0.81; 95% CI, 0.73–0.89) risk decrement.

What can I take instead of statins to lower cholesterol?

Are statins the best choice for me?

You should think carefully about taking a statin at the same time as starting those lifestyle changes. Statins are generally recommended for people who have CVD (such as people with angina or who have had a heart attack). But ultimately, the choice is yours.

Do I really need a statin?

If your risk is very low, you probably won't need a statin, unless your LDL is above 190 mg/dL (4.92 mmol/L). If your risk is very high — for example, you've had a heart attack in the past — a statin may be helpful even if you don't have high cholesterol.

Why do statins have to be taken at night?

So, why do people take statins at night? Many statins work more effectively when they are taken at night. This is because the enzyme which makes the cholesterol is more active at night. Also, the half-life, or the amount of time it takes for half the dose to leave your body, of some statins is short.

Do statins Prevent Dementia?

The effects of statins may not only be affecting stroke risk, but may also be preventing microvascular infarcts that lead to dementia without an acute stroke. Statins have been linked with reduced risk of all-cause dementia and even Alzheimer's disease as well.

Do statins cause rapid aging?

Statins may slow human aging by protecting against telomere shortening: A feature of senescent cells. Summary: Not only do statins extend lives by lowering cholesterol levels and reducing the risks of cardiovascular disease, but new research suggests that they may extend lifespans as well.