Do Statins Increase Your Risk for Dementia?
Posted By RichC on July 16, 2022
Since a lot of aging Americans have been prescribed a statin, they likely pay close attention to articles talking about possible links between statins and dementia –I take note too. Thankfully each time the medical studies and advice is updated, the benefits of taking a statin vs trying to live with high cholesterol still outweigh the theorized risks.
Statins are powerful cholesterol-lowering medications. They are among the most prescribed medications in the U.S. Common examples of statins include atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, and simvastatin.
For people with high cholesterol, these medications can save lives by reducing life-threatening events like heart attacks and strokes. But there has been concern about whether medications that lower cholesterol might have bad effects on the brain, which is the most cholesterol-rich organ in the body.
Many people who take statins have reported changes in their memory or feeling like they have a foggy head. These are examples of cognitive side effects, meaning they affect how someone thinks. This has led to a lot of discussion about a possible link between statins and dementia.
Some reports have stated that statins actually protect against dementia, and other reports have warned that they may increase dementia risk. So we combed through the evidence to set the record straight on statins and dementia.
The link between statins and dementia
Scientists have been working hard to figure out if statins might be causing dementia — or any other harm to the brain. Below are some of the largest and most studies and what they showed.
Comments