Medical studies suggest new preventative health findings for elderly populations

Recent medical studies have provided new insights into preventative care for the elderly. A study published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity suggests that adults aged 75 and older may safely discontinue primary prevention statin therapy if they have no history of heart attack or stroke. Researchers followed approximately 1,200 adults with a mean age of 80; those who stopped the medication showed no significant increase in mortality over three years compared to those who continued. However, stopping statins did not result in improvements to quality of life, physical function, or mental well-being.

Separately, research led by Brown University and published in the Annals of Internal Medicine indicates that the herpes-zoster vaccine may reduce the risk of dementia in older adults. By analyzing records of over 500,000 individuals aged 66 and older, researchers found a lower incidence of dementia among those vaccinated. The study suggests that preventing the chronic inflammation caused by the herpes-zoster virus may help protect the central nervous system and mitigate cognitive decline.