# Statins

Statins (drugs like atorvastatin and rosuvastatin) lower your cholesterol by blocking a liver enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase and ramping up the receptors that pull LDL out of your blood. They are approved to prevent heart attacks and strokes, both in people who have already had one and those at risk, with strong randomized-trial evidence that they cut cardiovascular deaths. They may have bonus effects relevant to aging too: healthier blood vessels, less inflammation, and steadier artery plaque. The nuance: if your baseline risk is low, the absolute benefit to lifespan is small and less certain. The clearest payoff is in higher-risk people and those who have already had heart trouble. Taking statins purely for longevity is still experimental.

## Sources

- Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study Group. (1994). Randomised trial of cholesterol lowering in 4444 patients with coronary heart disease: the Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study (4S). The Lancet. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(94)90566-5

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_Canonical: https://longevity-switzerland.com/en/glossary/statins · Part of Longevity Cities · Updated 2026-06-22_