Wellnews by Scott LaFee

Statins are drugs used to lower cholesterol and, in recent years, have often been touted as a 21st-century weapon against heart disease. Some studies have gone further, suggesting the drugs — which go by well-known market names like Lipitor, Zocor and Crestor — may also help prevent arthritis, bone fractures and cancer, reduce inflammation and help aid kidney function.

A new Dutch study adds another possible benefit: protection against Alzheimer's disease.

Researchers at the University of Groningen say they found that in animal tests, statins protect brain cells against damage known to occur in Alzheimer's patients. The tested statin, called Lovastatin, not only prevented key nerve cells from dying, said scientists, but appeared to prevent the loss of memory capacity that normally occurs after such cell death.

The results, published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, should be considered preliminary, however. As much as statins are touted as miracle drugs, they're far from perfect. Two serious potential side effects are liver damage and muscle problems. And a few studies have contrarily suggested statins might actually raise the risk of cancer or cognitive impairment.

BODY OF KNOWLEDGE

Some 65 million Americans have back trouble each year. Four out of five Americans will have lower back pain at some time in their lives. Lower back pain is the most common reason for employee absenteeism among workers over age 45, second only to colds and flu.

NUMBER CRUNCHER

A serving of cured pork bacon (three medium-sized slices) contains 103 calories, 71 from fat.

It has 7.9 grams of total fat or 12 percent of the recommended total fat intake for a 2,000-calorie daily diet.

It also contains 21 milligrams of cholesterol (7 percent); 439 mg of sodium (18 percent); 0.3 grams of total carbohydrates (0 percent) and 7 g of protein.

STORIES FOR THE WAITING ROOM

Sleepbetter.org, a group that promotes, well, better sleep (and who can argue with that?), recently published a survey of 1,000 presumably wide-awake Americans. Among the findings:

— 92 percent believe sleeping better is necessary to achieving their goals and ambitions.

— 94 percent said there is a direct correlation between a good night's sleep and functioning well the next day.

— 88 percent said pillow quality is key.

— 77 percent said they still have big dreams for themselves.

— 33 percent said President Obama was America's "biggest dreamer," with Martin Luther King Jr. coming in a distant second at 5 percent.

DOC TALK

Asystole: Sounds like an insult, but it's worse. Asystole is a condition in which the heart no longer beats and usually cannot be restarted.

MEDTRONICA

ULifeline

ulifeline.org

College can be a scary place. ULifeline is an online resource for college students looking for mental health information and counseling. Some of the material seems dated, but the information is still useful.

PHOBIA OF THE WEEK

Hamartophobia: fear of sinning

LAST WORDS

I've had 18 straight whiskies. I think that's the record.

— Welsh poet Dylan Thomas (1914-1953), who was known for heroic drinking bouts

To find out more about Scott LaFee and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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