The most common causes of long-term impairment in the US yearly are strokes, which impact approximately 795,000 people. Strokes occur when the brain′s blood and oxygen supply is cut off or interrupted, killing the brain tissue. The majority of strokes are ischemic, while 15% are hemorrhagic.

Statins are primarily used to treat cardiovascular disease by an estimated 32 million Americans. Additionally, studies have demonstrated that statins can lower the likelihood of deposits breaking off and can prevent the development of blood clots connected to ischemic stroke. The study was published in the Neurology.

The study examined data from all Danish health records to find those 55 and older who experienced their first intracerebral haemorrhage between 2009 and 2018. The scientists examined the brain region where the bleeding occurred to learn more about the problem.

Simvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, fluvastatin, atorvastatin, and rosuvastatin were some of the statins that researchers used in the study.

The study evaluated a total of 989 individuals with a bleed in the brain′s lobe region compared to 39,500 without, and 1,175 individuals with a bleed in the brain′s non-lobe region were compared to 46,755 individuals without stroke. Results showed a stroke risk reduction of 33% in the lobe area and a reduction of 38% in the non-lobe area by taking the medications for over five years.

Researchers found that those who were given statins had a lower risk of developing a brain bleed. A 17% reduction was seen in the bleed risk in the lobe region and a 16% reduction in risk in non-lobe regions of the brain. Findings also showed that long-term statin use further lowers the risk of stroke.

(Source: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/hemorrhagic-stroke-cholesterol-lowering-statins-reduce-risk)