Statins Cut Heart Attack Stroke Risk 30% in Over-70s Trial

A landmark clinical trial has found that cholesterol-lowering statin medication significantly reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke in adults over 70, even when started later in life without prior cardiovascular disease. The results, presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2026 and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, are expected to influence treatment guidelines for older patients worldwide. The Statins in Reducing Events in the Elderly (STAREE) trial, led by Monash University researchers, followed nearly 10,000 independently living adults aged 70 and older. Participants had no history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or dementia.