Read about PREVENTABLE in the news
and the importance of this study in understanding
the role and benefits of statins for older adults.


Publications


PREVENTABLE continues to fill an important evidence gap

"The Primary Prevention Guidelines remain silent on initiation of statins for those age 75 or older. PREVENTABLE will answer this question in 2027.

2022 Statin Use for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Adults US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement: The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the benefits and harms of initiating a statin for the primary prevention of CVD events and mortality in adults 76 years or older. JAMA 2022;328(8):746-753


More evidence that most reports of muscle symptoms are not from the statin you are taking (meta-analysis of randomized trials of statins)

August 29, 2022

"Most (>90%) of all reports of muscle symptoms by participants assigned to statin therapy were not due to the statin. Statin therapy causes a small excess of mostly mild muscle pain. The small risks of muscle symptoms are much lower than the known cardiovascular benefits. There is a need to review the clinical management of muscle symptoms in patients taking a statin.

This new information supports findings from two other studies of statin intolerant patients, which found that 90% of muscle symptoms were not due to the statin.
Side Effect Patterns in a Crossover Trial of Statin, Placebo, and No Treatment (SAMSON Study). J Am Coll Cardiol 2021;78:1210–1222
Statin treatment and muscle symptoms: series of randomized placebo controlled n-of-1 trials (Statin Wise study). BMJ 2021;372:n135

by Lancet


That Myalgia is Not From Your Statin.

September 23rd 2021

Many studies look at a medication compared to a placebo (sugar pill). New information now emphasizes that, particularly for statins, the best comparison may actually be to ‘no pill at all’. This is particularly important since, despite the extraordinary benefits of statins on cardiovascular health, many people who begin statins abandon them. This is largely because of muscle pain that patients attribute to their statin, known as statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS). The SAMSON trial, an innovative study, suggests the incidence of SAMS is unlikely to be as high as perceived. In fact, the study concluded that the vast majority of symptoms (90%) caused by statin tablets were due to the “nocebo” effect, which occurs when patients’ negative beliefs of a drug cause them to experience side effects. They discovered this when participants had the ‘no pill’ comparison to the ‘statin’ and ‘placebo’. There were a few patients (10%) who did not tolerate a statin, but the SAMSON trial results should reassure those already taking statins or thinking about taking statins. The vast majority of people who take statins do not have statin-related side effects, even if they experience some muscle aches.


Community Grants Available

June 1st 2021

Community grants are now available from the PREVENTABLE trial. These mini-grants are designed to provide support of educational outreach strategies to diverse communities around disability, dementia or healthy aging. We are seeking non-profit and community-serving organizations, faith based organizations, tribal nations and other organizations to assist us in expanding our reach to engage those interested in participating in PREVENTABLE.

These awards will provide financial support to community groups with trusted relationships and demonstrated success in engaging seniors in underserved communities, as a complement to local PREVENTABLE Study site engagement efforts. Priority will be given to applicants with demonstrated success in reaching communities of color and rural communities.

For more information, watch this webinar

Applications due: July 15, 2021


Local doctors research if cholesterol pill can keep you healthy as you age

April 6th 2021

Eileen Lundin, a retired nurse in Texas, shares why she joined PREVENTABLE to help researchers understand if a common drug to lower cholesterol can also help prevent disability or dementia.

"And there's nothing worse than seeing people that I know, my age group, who are starting to head down the slippery slope to dementia," Lundin says. "It's an awful, awful situation."

by Emily Baucum, News 4 San Antonio


PREVENTABLE Study to Look at Drug's Effect on Dementia

Apr 1, 2021

Dr. Catherine McNeal, a principal investigator for PREVENTABLE at Baylor Scott & White, said the long-term length of the study was important due to the nature of mental diseases.

"It takes several years to see improvement or worsening in cognition usually," McNeal said. "So the small studies that we have show that statins seem to prevent against dementia. This study is a very large national study aimed to really address that question, and we hope that it will show what is good for the heart is good for the brain."

by SHANE MONACO, TELEGRAM STAFF


Can a Cholesterol Drug Prevent Dementia? New Study Aims to Find Out.

March 11th, 2021

Between five and six million Americans age 65 and older live with dementia, a form of memory loss most often caused by Alzheimer's disease. Anyone facing their retirement years undoubtedly hopes to avoid similar cognitive decline and the challenges of daily life that often follow.

"We're hoping to learn one way or another if statins will be beneficial for seniors in maintaining longevity without disability," said Raj Shah, MD, a geriatrician and associate professor of family medicine with the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center at Rush University in Chicago.

by Meg Evans Smith, Evanston RoundTable


Minority Inclusion Emphasized in Dementia Study

Dec 16, 2020

to a March 2020 report by the Alzheimer's Association, Black Americans are about twice as likely as white Americans to have Alzheimer's and other dementias, but are only 34% more likely to be diagnosed. While genetic factors play a role in the risk of Alzheimer's, studies have not found a direct correlation between this and dementia risk regarding race. However, health, socioeconomic factors, stressors and comorbidity also play a role in the disproportionate number of Black Americans who suffer from Alzheimer's.

At the University of Miami, Dr. Olveen Carrasquillo, chief of general medicine, is looking is looking to prioritize minority participation in PREVENTABLE. "We know minorities are disproportionately affected, yet all the studies don't sample enough minorities, so we don't know."

by Bianca Marcof, Miami Times


Reconsidering Statins After 75

October 29, 2020

This AARP article highlights how research shows that statins, cholesterol-lowering drugs, deserve a closer look in older age. An individual's body doesn't suddenly change when you turn 75 years of age and a slew of recent studies suggest that older adults may benefit from taking a statin. However, there are no clear guidelines on statin use after 75.

by Beth Howard, AARP


For Older People, Reassuring News in the Statin Debate

September 21, 2020

NY Times Well writer Jane Brody considers statin use for primary prevention in older adults in her Sept 21 article "For Older People, Reassuring News in the Statin Debate." She discusses potentially favorable effects on cognition and cancer, but stresses that evidence from randomized high quality trials is needed. The STAREE trial in Australia and the PREVENTABLE trial in the US will provide this high quality trial evidence.

by Jane E. Brody, NY Times

Newsletters


SUMMER 2023 PREVENTABLE Newsletter

The summer 2023 participant newsletter shares a message from Principal Investigator of Clinical Sites Jacob Joseph, participant testimonials, and a feature about PREVENTABLE's trip to the National Senior Games. With this issue of the newsletter, readers can learn how to make a fellow participant's sweet summer treat, learn more about PREVENTABLE's ancillary studies, or invite a friend to learn more about the study.

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Winter 2023 PREVENTABLE Newsletter

The Winter 2023 participant newsletter features a message from Principal Investigator Adrian Hernandez, updates from the September 2022 Investigator meeting, participant testimonials, and ways to love your brain from the Alzheimer's Association. Readers can learn how to make Marie Going's green smoothie recipe, complete one of the fun activities, or invite a friend to join PREVENTABLE with this issue of the newsletter.

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Spring/Summer 2022 PREVENTABLE Newsletter

The Spring/Summer 2022 participant newsletter features a message from PREVENTABLE Principal Investigator Dr. Jeff D. Williamson, a feature piece on a participant advisor, and fun activities. Readers will also appreciate Mr. Massey’s gumbo recipe, details about Life’s Simple 7 from the American Heart Association, and the invitation share information about the study with a friend. This newsletter is entertaining and informative, and, most importantly, it was made specifically for PREVENTABLE participants.

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Fall 2021 PREVENTABLE Newsletter

The Fall 2021 newsletter features a letter from the Principal Investigator Dr. Karen Alexander, the benefits of taking a statin and how it may prevent dementia, recent highlights and statistics from the study, and fun activities for readers. Whether readers are making Grandpa George’s Homemade Granola from page four or referring a friend to the study, the newsletter is a helpful and enjoyable companion to PREVENTABLE.

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