A major new study suggests that many adults age 70 and older who have never experienced a heart attack or stroke may be able to stop taking statins without substantially increasing their short-term cardiovascular risks. However, the findings also point to a possible increase in risk over a longer period, making the decision more complicated than it initially appears.
The independent, preliminary research was presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2026, held November 6 through 9 in Chicago. The annual conference brings together cardiovascular researchers and healthcare professionals from around the world to share scientific discoveries, emerging evidence, and advances in clinical care.
An estimated 25% of American adults have elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), commonly called “bad cholesterol.” When too much LDL cholesterol accumulates in the arteries, it can restrict blood flow and contribute to heart attacks and strokes. Statins are widely prescribed to lower cholesterol and reduce these risks, including in people who have never experienced a cardiovascular event. This preventive approach remains a central part of the American Heart Association’s 2026 joint guideline on dyslipidemia.
Do Older Adults Need to Keep Taking Statins?
Although statins are an established treatment for reducing cardiovascular risk, questions remain about how much benefit they provide when people reach their 70s and beyond, particularly if they have never had a heart attack or stroke.
“While the Association’s recent joint guideline recommends lifestyle and potentially medication for people with high LDL-C at younger ages to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, recent studies question the health benefits of continuing statins in the later decades of life,” said study author Rita F. Redberg, M.D., M.Sc., FAHA, professor of cardiology and the Araxe Vilensky Endowed Chair in Cardiology at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine. “A few previous studies assessed the safety of discontinuing statins for primary prevention at age 70 and later, and they found no difference in mortality. One study suggested quality of life improvements after stopping statins. Whether it is safe to discontinue statins to prevent a first CVD event in the elderly remained unclear and the question we explored in our study.”
To investigate, researchers enrolled nearly 1,900 adults aged 70 and older who were taking statins specifically to prevent a first cardiovascular event. Every participant also had at least two chronic medical conditions, such as a history of cancer or lung disease.
Participants were divided into two groups. One group stopped taking statins, while the other continued their prescribed treatment. Researchers tracked their health for approximately two years, with additional follow-up extending as long as four years. They examined rates of heart attack, stroke, and death, along with changes in quality of life, muscle pain, falls, and muscle wasting (known as sarcopenia).
What Happened When Older Adults Stopped Statins?
The initial findings were largely reassuring. After approximately two years, participants who stopped taking statins did not experience a statistically significant increase in heart attacks, strokes, or deaths compared with those who remained on the medications.
Stopping treatment also did not produce measurable improvements in the other outcomes researchers examined. Quality of life, muscle discomfort, falls, and muscle wasting were similar in both groups.
There was, however, a small difference in cardiovascular outcomes. Over the first two years, the results indicated approximately one additional cardiovascular event for every 40 people who discontinued statins compared with those who continued treatment.
The longer follow-up revealed a more concerning pattern. Over a period of up to four years, 12.7% of participants who stopped statins experienced a heart attack, stroke, or death, compared with 9.2% of those who kept taking the medications.
Longer Follow-Up Reveals a Potential Risk
Redberg explained that the higher rate of serious outcomes during the four-year follow-up represents a new finding in research on statin discontinuation among older adults. She suggested that the difference may have emerged because this trial included more participants and tracked them for a longer period than earlier studies.
These results complicate the question of whether older adults should continue cholesterol treatment indefinitely. While the findings suggest that stopping statins may be a reasonable option for many people in this age group, they also indicate that remaining on treatment could offer some protection over time.
“This small, increased risk of cardiovascular events means that one cannot make a general recommendation about stopping statins in this patient population,” she said. “There should be shared decision-making between the patient and the healthcare professional to know if it is appropriate for an individual to discontinue the medication. In general, however, discontinuation is safe for most people who are in this age group and without a previous CVD event.”
Study Design and Important Limitations
The trial involved 1,880 participants aged 70 and older (average age of 77; 53% men, and 47% women), all of whom had at least two chronic health conditions. Individuals with established cardiovascular disease or a previous cardiovascular event were not eligible to participate.
Researchers conducted the study between November 2021 and April 2026 across 24 medical centers in Switzerland, France, and the Netherlands. Of the participants, 938 were assigned to discontinue statins, while 942 were assigned to continue taking their medications.
Throughout the trial and subsequent follow-up, researchers recorded heart attacks, acute ischemic strokes, and deaths from any cause. Participants also completed surveys assessing their overall quality of life, muscle pain, falls, and sarcopenia.
One limitation was that some participants did not remain in their originally assigned groups. Some people instructed to stop statins eventually resumed treatment, while others assigned to continue taking statins stopped using them. Altogether, approximately 14% of participants switched from their assigned treatment approach during the study.
To determine whether these changes affected the findings, the researchers performed several additional statistical analyses. The results remained unchanged.
Taken together, the findings suggest that discontinuing statins may be an option for many adults over 70 who have not previously experienced cardiovascular disease, especially when considering outcomes over the first two years. However, the higher rate of heart attacks, strokes, and deaths during longer follow-up underscores why stopping treatment should be an individualized decision made with a healthcare professional rather than a general recommendation for all older adults.