October 09, 2026
A new study highlights a fatty acid produced by a particular genus of bacteria as a “natural statin,” suggesting a new way of treating atherosclerosis [1]. Bacteria and cholesterol Atherosclerosis develops when cholesterol-rich particles accumulate in arterial walls, driving inflammation and plaque buildup. The liver helps mitigate this process by removing low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which...
March 15, 2024
Scientists have used a huge database to find links between existing drugs and human lifespan. Only 14 of more than 400 showed a positive correlation [1]. Reinventing the wheel? One of the subfields in geroscience was born from the idea that some drugs currently in use for various indications might slow aging. In recent years,...
July 25, 2023
A new systematic review lends support to the idea that statins, which are life-saving cholesterol-lowering drugs, are associated with an increased risk of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes [1]. Statins’ dark side Statins, drugs that improve the lipid profile by reducing harmful LDL cholesterol, are considered one of the biggest successes in medicine in...
March 16, 2023
Analyzing data from three clinical trials, scientists have shown that excessive inflammation is a much stronger predictor of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in patients on statins than excessive LDL cholesterol levels. These findings can upend the current standard of care for such patients [1]. The two types of risk Statins, drugs that lower the levels...