Statins can safely cut risk of heart attacks or strokes in healthy people aged over 70, world-first clinical trial shows

<p>Australian-led trial finds low risk of side effects from common cholesterol-lowering medication for otherwise healthy older people</p><ul><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>Taking a common cholesterol-lowering medication can reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke for people aged over 70, with a low risk of serious side effects, a world-first clinical trial led by Australian researchers has found.</p><p>Statins are already commonly prescribed to people under the age of 75 who meet certain risk criteria, such as having diabetes and high cholesterol, to prevent them from having a major heart event such as a heart attack, stroke, or from requiring heart surgery.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/29/statins-reduce-risk-heart-attack-stroke-over-70s-clinical-trial">Continue reading...</a>