Statins offer significant health-benefits as they reduce harmful cholesterol’s in the blood, which can lead to the hardening of arteries and a vulnerability to heart-conditions such as angina, heart-attack and also – the risk of stroke.
Dr Whooley and her team of researchers analyzed the data from a sample of 965 patients and asked the ones who used statins to complete a questionnaire every year during a period of six years, which revealed information on their psychological wellbeing and frame of mind. Based on information from the questionnaires, the study revealed the following results: 629 (65%) of the patients took statins, among the 776 patients without depressive symptoms at the beginning of the study, statin use was linked to a 48% reduction in developing depression. This association continued, but was lowered to 38% when the researchers took into account additional aggravators such as smoking, exercise and high-cholesterol levels.
As the study gathered momentum, the researchers determined a difference between those who used statins and those who had not – exhibited greater levels of depressive-symptom. However despite these findings, Dr Whooley asserts that more studies need to be carried out investigating the link between satins and the potential treatment of depression:
“Whether use of statins prevents depressive symptoms deserves further study…Statins may have some kind of long-term protective effect against depression, perhaps by helping to prevent atherosclerosis in the brain, which can contribute to depressive symptoms”.