Could common pills help you live longer?
Association between prescription drugs and all‐cause mortality risk in the UK population
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Scientists looked at what medicines people took and who lived longer over 13 years. Some pills, like those for erectile dysfunction or cholesterol, were linked to people living longer—even if they weren’t taking them for heart disease.
Surprising Findings
Only atorvastatin showed a mortality benefit among statins—other statins like simvastatin had no effect.
All statins are assumed to work the same way to lower cholesterol and reduce heart disease. This study shows they don’t—atorvastatin is uniquely linked to longer life.
Practical Takeaways
If you’re on atorvastatin, ask your doctor if 20mg/day is enough—higher doses may not help.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Scientists looked at what medicines people took and who lived longer over 13 years. Some pills, like those for erectile dysfunction or cholesterol, were linked to people living longer—even if they weren’t taking them for heart disease.
Surprising Findings
Only atorvastatin showed a mortality benefit among statins—other statins like simvastatin had no effect.
All statins are assumed to work the same way to lower cholesterol and reduce heart disease. This study shows they don’t—atorvastatin is uniquely linked to longer life.
Practical Takeaways
If you’re on atorvastatin, ask your doctor if 20mg/day is enough—higher doses may not help.
Publication
Journal
Aging Cell
Year
2024
Authors
Jonas Morin, Yves Rolland, Heike A. Bischoff-Ferrari, Alejandro Ocampo, Kevin Perez
Related Content
Claims (5)
In the UK, people between 40 and 70 who take statins tend to live a little longer than those who don’t — but only atorvastatin seems to make the difference; other statins don’t show the same benefit.
People in the UK between 40 and 70 who were prescribed sildenafil (like Viagra) were 15% less likely to die from any cause over time compared to similar people who weren’t prescribed it—even when accounting for things like age, smoking, or diabetes—so scientists think it might help people live longer.
People in the UK between 40 and 70 who were prescribed naproxen (a painkiller) were 10% less likely to die from any cause during the study, especially men, even when accounting for things like smoking or diabetes.
Women in the UK between 40 and 70 who are prescribed estrogen-based medications like patches or vaginal tablets seem to live longer than those who aren’t, even when you account for things like smoking or diabetes.
For people in the UK between 40 and 70 years old, taking atorvastatin (a cholesterol drug) is linked to a slightly lower risk of dying from any cause — but only up to a 20mg dose. Taking more, like 80mg, might actually increase the risk instead.