Common heart pill under scrutiny for older patients as study weighs risks of stopping
Some older adults may be able to stop taking statins with little added risk over two years, but a new study raises concerns about longer-term safety.That’s according to a randomized clinical trial that was presented on Nov.7, 2026, at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in Chicago, and published in The New England Journal of Medicine.Statins are prescription medications that lower LDL, or "bad," cholesterol by reducing how much cholesterol the liver makes.
They are known to help reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.COMMON CHOLESTEROL DRUG LINKED TO LOWER DEMENTIA RISK WHEN STARTED EARLYThe study – conducted by researchers from the University of Bern in Switzerland, the University of California, San Francisco, and other institutions – included 1,880 adults aged 70 years and older, all of whom were taking statins to prevent a first heart attack or stroke.Some older adults may be able to stop taking statins with little added risk over two years, but a new study raises concerns about longer-term safety.(iStock)All participants had at least two chronic medical conditions, but did not have established cardiovascular disease or previous cardiovascular events.
Half of the participants stopped taking statins, and the other half continued.After two years, the added risk from stopping statins was small enough to fall within the limits researchers had set for the study.However, that did not mean stopping carried no added risk.5 HABITS THAT COULD HELP KEEP YOU OUT OF A NURSING HOME, FROM AN ORTHOPEDIC SURGEONOver the full follow-up, which lasted about two years for the typical participant and up to four years for some, about 13% of those assigned to stop statins had a heart attack, an ischemic stroke or died from any cause, compared with 9% assigned to continue treatment.The study’s safety monitoring board also recommended that participants who were assigned to stop statins discuss restart...