A groundbreaking study has found that taking statin medications regularly for high cholesterol over three years can reduce the risk of developing dementia by as much as 63%.
Statins are cholesterol-lowering drugs that are easily recognizable by their -statin suffix.
On Monday, a research team from the Federal University of Amazonas in Manaus, Brazil, led by Fernando Luiz Westphal, revealed these findings after analyzing data from 7 million patients diagnosed with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and vascular dementia.
The study showed that individuals who used statins had an 11% lower risk of developing dementia compared to those who didn’t use the medication. Among the statins examined were widely prescribed drugs like simvastatin, atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, and fluvastatin.
Interestingly, the benefits were even more pronounced among diabetic patients. Those with Type 2 diabetes who consistently took statins saw their risk of developing dementia reduced by 13%.
Most notably, people who took statins for over three years experienced a remarkable 63% reduction in their risk of dementia compared to those who never used the drugs.
Dementia is a condition marked by multiple cognitive impairments, including memory loss, that severely affect daily life. Alzheimer’s disease, which accounts for 70% of dementia cases, occurs when amyloid-beta proteins build up in the brain, causing nerve cells to gradually die and leading to a decline in cognitive function, as well as language and behavioral issues.
The research team explained that statins’ anti-inflammatory effects help protect the brain from damage caused by inflammation and nerve injury. Additionally, the drugs’ antioxidant properties may help reduce oxidative stress in the brain, potentially preventing neurodegenerative diseases, including dementia.
The scientists also noted that vascular dementia, often caused by stroke-related damage, is influenced by risk factors such as hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes. By lowering cholesterol levels, statins likely help reduce the risk of dementia associated with these conditions.
Theey described the study as groundbreaking, demonstrating that statins may serve more as protective agents against dementia than merely treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. They added that statins, being relatively inexpensive medications, position them as powerful tools for preventing dementia, particularly in low—and middle-income countries.
These findings were published in the January issue of the prestigious journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions.