Private MD News

Statins useful in treating younger stroke victims

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

Despite receiving normal cholesterol test results, some younger adults and teenagers experience potentially dangerous strokes. New research suggests that starting younger stroke victims on cholesterol-lowering medications - even when lipid blood tests are normal - may help prevent a second neurovascular event.

The Helsinki University researchers who conducted the study said that stroke is often thought of a problem affecting only older people, but actually a sizable number of young adults and teens suffer from such events each year. However, it is unclear why this happens.

For the study, the team analyzed the medical records of 215 people between the ages of 15 and 49 who had experienced a stroke. A total of 36 of these participants were regular statin users and another 36 had used statins at some point. The results showed that these individuals were 77 percent less likely to suffer a second stroke at any point during the course of the study.

The researchers said that their findings show statin medication may be an appropriate therapy for younger individuals who have experienced strokes, regardless of whether or not their cholesterol test results are normal.