Gene Tied to Muscle Weakness With Statins

A gene variant may increase the risk of muscle weakness in people who take statin drugs. A new study found the gene. Researchers scanned the genes of 85 people who developed muscle weakness and 90 who did not. Risk of muscle weakness was less than 1% in people without the gene variant. It rose to 18% for people with two copies of the gene. Statins are used to lower cholesterol. Researchers said the gene variant causes about 6 out of 10 cases. The Associated Press and Reuters news service wrote about the study. It was published July 24 in the New England Journal of Medicine.