How statins may keep you from getting frail in old age
A common cholesterol-busting drug could also prevent frailty in old age, a study has suggested.American researchers found older adults taking statins were 24 per cent less likely to be frail than those not taking the daily pills.The team at Mass General Brigham in Boston analysed data from nearly a million US Army veterans who were initially aged 67 and older, considered not to be frail and not taking statins.Within five years, 290,729 of them had started statins and more than 636,000 had become frail. Over the following 16 years, researchers found those who had started taking statins were significantly less likely to have muscle loss, fatigue, slow walking speed and low levels of activity.The team found that the drug had this effect even when patients had shown early signs of frailty at the beginning of the study. This suggests that statins may be beneficial in preventing frailty even if they’re only taken after the onset of the condition.The study’s authors believe that statins have anti-inflammatory effects in addition to lowering cholesterol, which may help slow processes associated with biological ageing and functional decline. Older adults taking statins could be less likely to experience fragility in old age (stock image)About 7 million Britons are on statins, while around ten per cent of over-65s live with frailty. This figure rises to between 25 per cent and 50 per cent for those aged over 85.Study author Dr Saadia Qazilead said: ‘There are currently no approved medications specifically to prevent frailty. 'Our findings suggest that statins may offer an important opportunity to reduce the risk of frailty and help people preserve their health and independence as they age.’
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How statins may keep you from getting frail in old age
