The Sen Times

What are statins? And can healthy people use them to prevent heart disease and dementia?

September 14, 2026 (Conversation) Every month, around 2.7 million Australians have a statin dispensed to lower their risk of heart attack and stroke. Statins reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, the collective term for conditions involving the heart and blood vessels. Now, two recent studies have investigated if statins could be used preventatively in healthy people to protect against dementia and promote healthier ageing. Lets take a look at the evidence. What are statins? Statins have been used for decades to reduce the amount of cholesterol the liver produces. This lowers low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the blood, sometimes called