Latest news with #Statins
The Independent
23-04-2025
- Health
- The Independent
One of UK's most prescribed drugs could reduce death rate of common blood cancer
One of the most prescribed drugs in the UK could reduce the risk of dying from blood cancer by more than 60 per cent, a study has revealed. Statins, a cholesterol-lowering medication taken by more than 7million people in the UK, lowers the risk of heart disease, which can lead to heart attacks or strokes. But it's also been suggested to reduce the death rates of several cancers, including Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), according to a study published today in the journal Blood Advances. These are both types of slow-growing cancers. CLL starts in the blood-forming cells of the bone marrow and is a common form of leukaemia. SLL affects the same type of cells but starts in lymphoid tissues such as the spleen instead of in the blood-forming cells. Researchers analysed data from 1,467 patents with CLL or SLL who participated in four international trials conducted between 2012 and 2019. Each patient was either newly diagnosed, their blood cancer had come back or had not responded to prior treatment. These trials saw patients randomly assigned ibrutinib, a targeted cancer drug, either alone or in combination with other anti-cancer drugs, or to a drug regimen that did not include ibrutinib. A total of 424 patients (29 per cent) were taking a statin at the time they started treatment across the four clinical trials which looked at how long patients lived after starting treatment. They were followed up after five years for overall survival and 22 months for progression-free survival. Researchers discovered that patients who took a statin had a 61 per cent reduced risk of dying from their cancer, a 38 per cent reduction in death of any cause and a 26 per cent reduced risk of disease progression. Researchers adjusted their analysis for variables including each patient's diagnosis, age, sex, weight, disease severity, length of time since their diagnosis, number of co-existing illnesses, use of other medications for heart conditions or high blood pressure, and the specific anti-cancer treatment regimen received. 'Our results highlight a strong link between statin use and improved survival in this patient population,' said the study's principal investigator, Ahmad Abuhelwa, PhD, an assistant professor of pharmacy practice and pharmacotherapeutics at the University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. He added: 'These findings don't allow us to say for certain that statins directly improve cancer outcomes. 'However, the fact that this association remained strong even after accounting for multiple factors makes it an important area for future research.' As next steps, he recommended conducting laboratory studies to better understand how statins may influence cancer biology, as well as prospective clinical trials in which patients with CLL or SLL are randomly assigned to take a statin or not.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Tackling bad cholesterol levels with statins may reduce dementia risk
Cholesterol-busting drugs have been linked to reducing the risk of dementia in a new study. Statins are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the UK, with around seven to eight million people taking them to cut their chance of heart attack and stroke. Now new research suggests they may have more benefits. Experts found that people who have low levels of 'bad' cholesterol in their blood have a reduced risk of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. And use of statins was found to have 'additional protective effects'. Statins are a group of medicines that can help lower the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood. LDL cholesterol (LDL- C) is often referred to as 'bad cholesterol' and can cause plaque to build in arteries, leading to cardiovascular disease, which can increase the chance of strokes, heart attacks and death. Are you aged over 40 and haven't had a cholesterol test in the past 5 years? High cholesterol often doesn't have symptoms, but it can increase your risk of heart problems or stroke. Take control of your health and get your cholesterol checked today! 💙#StrokePreventionDay — North East and North Cumbria NHS (@NENC_NHS) January 30, 2025 Researchers from South Korea said their findings 'underscore the crucial role of managing LDL- C in lowering dementia risk'. Experts examined health data on more than 570,000 people in South Korea. The NHS says that people should aim for bad cholesterol levels in the blood to be below 4mmol/L (millimoles per litre). Researchers found that people whose LDL cholesterol levels were below 1.8 mmol/L had a 26% reduced risk of dementia and a 28% reduced risk in Alzheimer's compared to those who have LDL cholesterol levels above 3.4 mmol/L. Statin use appeared to have additional protection against dementia in the presence of low LDL cholesterol levels. Among people with LDL cholesterol levels below 1.8 mmol/L, statin use was linked to a 13% reduction in dementia risk and a 12% decrease in risk of Alzheimer's disease compared with non-users. 'These findings emphasise the importance of targeted LDL- C management as part of dementia prevention strategies, with potential integration into clinical guidelines,' the authors wrote in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry. 'The results support the use of statin therapy within specific LDL- C ranges for both cardiovascular and cognitive health benefits.' They added: 'This insightful understanding of how statin use interacts with LDL- C levels emphasises the need for personalised statin prescriptions, focusing on achieving LDL- C levels that offer the maximum cognitive benefits.' Commenting on the study, Dr Julia Dudley, head of research at Alzheimer's Research UK, said: 'This large study looked at patient records for levels of LDL cholesterol and the risk of dementia, it also examined those patients who were on statins. 'It found that those people with lower LDL levels had a reduced risk of dementia. 'The use of statins seemed to offer a protective effect – even in those who already had cholesterol levels within a lower range. 'However, dementia risk is complex and influenced by many factors. Without a detailed picture of what's going on in the brain we do not know if there is a direct link between lower cholesterol and reduced dementia risk. Clinical trials will be key to understand what effects statins might be having on disease processes in the brain. 'In the meantime, keeping our hearts healthy remains one of the most effective ways we can protect our brain health. If you have any concerns about your cholesterol levels, you should speak to your GP.' Dr Richard Oakley from the Alzheimer's Society added: 'Dementia risk is complicated and determined by several factors including genetics, lifestyle, and the environment. 'This study adds to our understanding by showing the strong connection between heart and brain health. Simply put, what is good for the heart is good for the head.' He added: 'This is an ever-evolving topic, and more targeted research and trials are needed to understand whether statins can help protect the brain. However, it is crucial to talk to your GP before making any changes to your medication'.
The Independent
01-04-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Tackling bad cholesterol levels with statins may reduce dementia risk
Cholesterol-busting drugs have been linked to reducing the risk of dementia in a new study. Statins are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the UK, with around seven to eight million people taking them to cut their chance of heart attack and stroke. Now new research suggests they may have more benefits. Experts found that people who have low levels of 'bad' cholesterol in their blood have a reduced risk of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. And use of statins was found to have 'additional protective effects'. Statins are a group of medicines that can help lower the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood. LDL cholesterol (LDL- C) is often referred to as 'bad cholesterol' and can cause plaque to build in arteries, leading to cardiovascular disease, which can increase the chance of strokes, heart attacks and death. Researchers from South Korea said their findings 'underscore the crucial role of managing LDL- C in lowering dementia risk'. Experts examined health data on more than 570,000 people in South Korea. The NHS says that people should aim for bad cholesterol levels in the blood to be below 4mmol/L (millimoles per litre). Researchers found that people whose LDL cholesterol levels were below 1.8 mmol/L had a 26% reduced risk of dementia and a 28% reduced risk in Alzheimer's compared to those who have LDL cholesterol levels above 3.4 mmol/L. Statin use appeared to have additional protection against dementia in the presence of low LDL cholesterol levels. Among people with LDL cholesterol levels below 1.8 mmol/L, statin use was linked to a 13% reduction in dementia risk and a 12% decrease in risk of Alzheimer's disease compared with non-users. 'These findings emphasise the importance of targeted LDL- C management as part of dementia prevention strategies, with potential integration into clinical guidelines,' the authors wrote in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry. 'The results support the use of statin therapy within specific LDL- C ranges for both cardiovascular and cognitive health benefits.' They added: 'This insightful understanding of how statin use interacts with LDL- C levels emphasises the need for personalised statin prescriptions, focusing on achieving LDL- C levels that offer the maximum cognitive benefits.' Commenting on the study, Dr Julia Dudley, head of research at Alzheimer's Research UK, said: 'This large study looked at patient records for levels of LDL cholesterol and the risk of dementia, it also examined those patients who were on statins. 'It found that those people with lower LDL levels had a reduced risk of dementia. 'The use of statins seemed to offer a protective effect – even in those who already had cholesterol levels within a lower range. 'However, dementia risk is complex and influenced by many factors. Without a detailed picture of what's going on in the brain we do not know if there is a direct link between lower cholesterol and reduced dementia risk. Clinical trials will be key to understand what effects statins might be having on disease processes in the brain. 'In the meantime, keeping our hearts healthy remains one of the most effective ways we can protect our brain health. If you have any concerns about your cholesterol levels, you should speak to your GP.' Dr Richard Oakley from the Alzheimer's Society added: ' Dementia risk is complicated and determined by several factors including genetics, lifestyle, and the environment. 'This study adds to our understanding by showing the strong connection between heart and brain health. Simply put, what is good for the heart is good for the head.' He added: 'This is an ever-evolving topic, and more targeted research and trials are needed to understand whether statins can help protect the brain. However, it is crucial to talk to your GP before making any changes to your medication'.
