Reducing Cholesterol Lowers Risk of Heart Attack, Stroke, and Death, Study Finds

A new study reinforces the importance of lowering cholesterol in people at risk for, but who haven’t had a heart attack or stroke. The study looked at a statin alternative, called bempedoic acid, and found that as it reduced levels of LDL cholesterol, it also lowered the risk for heart attack, stroke and death.

Researchers are quick to say bempedoic acid shouldn’t be used instead of statins. It’s far more expensive and doesn’t have the decades-long track record of safety and effectiveness. But for people who can’t tolerate statins or a high enough dose to bring their cholesterol levels down adequately, the new study suggests it’s important to find alternatives, and that bempedoic acid can be at least part of the solution.