Last November, the US Preventive Task Force concluded that for adults over 75, with no history of heart attack or stroke, there was insufficient evidence to assess the risks versus the benefits of taking a statin as a way to lower cholesterol and prevent a cardiovascular episode. Whenever someone considers taking a medication, you always want to make sure the benefits of the drug outweigh the potential side effects that may accompany it. Now, in a new online analysis in JAMA, scientists have reported that comparing those over 75 taking a statin, who had no cardiac history, versus those not taking a statin, there was no difference in the number of heart attacks, coronary heart disease or reduction in deaths for any reason. In essence, the statin seemed to have no impact in those patients over 75. Given that statin use may cause muscle damage and fatigue, if you’re over 75 you may want to contact your physician and discuss your use of a statin. Read the conclusions of the US Preventive Task Force Here and the JAMA online analysis Here.