Statins are medication that lowers a person’s ‘bad cholesterol’. There are numerous types of statins, but all of them generally function in a similar way. When too much low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up in the inner walls of the arteries that lead into the brain and heart. Along with other substances, it can create plaque, a thick, hard deposit that can restrict the arteries and make them inflexible. This is commonly referred to ‘atherosclerosis’. If a clot forms and blocks a narrowed artery, a stroke or heart attack may then occur. In the U.S. alone, it is estimated that a quarter of adults aged 45 and over, are using statins to lower cholesterol and to cut the chance of a heart attack (such as Lipitor and Crestor). The medication can set them back from approximately $11 to over $200 every month. As years have passed, and more studies have taken place on the drugs, experts have claimed that statins aid in issues such as lowering certain cancer risks and lowering the risk of developing depression. An ongoing study that is being carried out by experts at the Harvard School of Public Health together with Brigham and Women’s Hospital has shown that the risk of a person getting Parkinson’s disease may be slightly reduced after regular use of cholesterol-lowering statins. This is particularly shown in adults younger than 60 years old. Overall it was found that the subjects who stated they were taking cholesterol-lowering drugs had a 26% decreased risk of Parkinson’s disease developing. This was over a 12-year duration (between 1994 and 2006). Specifically those younger than 60 years old saw their risk decrease by a whopping 69%. The findings do not necessarily mean that statins will completely stave off the occurrence of the disease, with researchers warning that the link between the drugs and Parkinson’s is still “unconvincing”. In addition, it is thought that roughly 30% of those people taking statins were probably taking an additional kind of cholesterol-lowering drug. It was also noted by researchers that only 70% of those receiving cholesterol-lowering medication, were actually taking statins. If you are determined to improve your cholesterol levels, Medical Specialists Pharmacy we can help. ‘Crestor’ and ‘Lipitor’ are prescription only medicines that belongs to a group of cholesterol-lowering medicines called statins. Along with diet, they lower“bad” cholesterol (LDL-C), increase “good” cholesterol (HDL-C), and also slow the progression of atherosclerosis in adults with high cholesterol, as part of a treatment plan to lower cholesterol to goal. Prices start from as little as £35.02 per pack.