What are statins? And can healthy people use them to prevent heart disease and dementia?

Every month, around 2.7 million Australians have a statin dispensed to lower their risk of heart attack and stroke.

Statins reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, the collective term for conditions involving the heart and blood vessels.

Now, two recent studies have investigated if statins could be used preventatively in healthy people – to protect against dementia and promote healthier ageing.

Let’s take a look at the evidence.

What are statins? Statins have been used for decades to reduce the amount of cholesterol the liver produces.

This lowers low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the blood, sometimes called “bad” cholesterol.

High levels of LDL can contribute to fatty deposits called plaques in artery walls.

This build up is known as atherosclerosis .

When a plaque ruptures, a blood clot can block blood flow in the artery.

This can cause a heart attack or stroke .

For most people, statins are well tolerated.

But like all medicines, they can cause side effects.

Sometimes people report muscle aches or cramps, but rarely do they cause serious muscle injury.

Read more: What’s the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest? One’s about plumbing, the other wiring High cholesterol can lead to blocked arteries and increase your risk of stroke or heart attack.