Some of the all-time best superpowers may be found in the characters of the X-Men series: Storm (Halle Berry) controls elements of weather and the atmosphere; Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) uses telepathy to read and control people's minds; and Jean Grey (Sophie Turner), aka Dark Phoenix, moves objects using telekinesis.

But all that may pale in comparison to what researchers from the Boston VA, Harvard, and other institutions recently learned that statins can do for people 75 and older who don't have cardiovascular disease.

Looking at available data from more than 57,000 veterans, they found that starting to take a statin at that age can slash your risk of developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

It can also reduce your risk of dying from any cause over the course of four to 14 years by 25%, and from a cardiovascular event like a heart attack or stroke by 20%.

But the American Board of Internal Medicine wants people to recognize that statins do pose risks to older folks: Muscle aches and pains, nausea and intestinal woes, memory loss or confusion, and interaction with various other medications are possible.

If you're in the 34% of people over age 75 without cardiovascular disease, talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks of taking statins. Together, you can decide if the medication is right for you.