The " Statin " question ?

The ABC dropped the cat amongst the pigeons on Halloween night with it's Catalyst programme,  This delved into the miracle drug -" Statins " - taken by an overwhelming number of people over fifty years of age.

Perhaps the most common brand of Statins is Lipitor, but the patent has now expired and a vast array of generic versions are more cheaply available.   Lipitor was amazingly successful in delivering huge profits to the drug company responsible for it's development.

Medical thinking blamed Cholesterol for causing the main reason for death on heart attacks and strokes. Cholesterol stuck to the lining of arteries and Statins reduced Cholesterol, hence those taking this Statin could expect to live longer and not suffer heart attacks or strokes.

A big number of medical doctors now refute this thinking.   They think Statins take a minor role in protecting a small percentage of patients from strokes and heart attacks, but claim that Cholesterol is a natural requirement of the human body - and when it is sharply diluted it clears the way for other diseases.

In particular, they see a link between reduced Cholesterol and the rapidly increasing incidence of Dementia - and in particular, Alzheimers disease.

The human brain is composed of many parts and requires rapid connection to serve the memory function. There is a contention that reducing Cholesterol impairs the transmission of data between brain centres and is doing more harm than good.

The spectre of greed hangs over this question.   The medical profession is divided over the Statin question and much of the statistical evidence available is in sharp contrast.   It is known that some drug companies provide rewards for doctors who enthusiastically prescribe their drugs, and many medical trials are paid for by drug companies.   Such trials usually recommend the product tested and make little reference to any side effects involved.

This segment of Catalyst must have left many viewers confused.    Some may have heard earlier doubts about Statins, but decided that avoiding a stroke or heart attack was their main medical aim.   The thought that this medication may hasten the incidence of Dementia puts a new slant on the decision process.

Getting good advice is the main problem.   Obviously, consulting the patients own doctor would be the first step, but it seems the profession is evenly divided.   Hopefully, this is a medical question that the great research laboratories will put high on the list of problems to be solved.

It is - in every sense - a matter of life or death !