08/06/2009 - 2:24am

Statins and Dementia

My doctor once said (jokingly- I think) that she thought statins (cholesterol lowering drugs) should be put into the drinking water system, as fluoride is. These types of drugs are so universally prescribed, so prevalent and so effective that why shouldn’t everyone take them?

Besides their cholesterol lowering properties, it was also thought that statins had a part in preventing Alzheimer’s and dementia, although no research was done to uphold this claim.

Now research ha s been conducted and unfortunately, no link has been found between statins and Alzheimer’s/dementia prevention. Two published trials that included over 25,000 participants showed no significant differences between people taking the groups and cognitive impairment. Cognitive tests showed that statin therapy had no effect on cognition.

Scientists thought that it was feasible that statins could help prevent dementia because of their cholesterol lowering properties. There were some initial observational studies that also pointed in the direction of a link between statins and lower dementia rates. But, as said, the controlled studies showed otherwise.

It is not all bad news though. The trials also showed that while taking statins does not help reduce dementia they do not add to the risk either. So like the proverbial chicken soup, while they may not help, they certainly don’t hurt either, although studies are still needed to assess the long term effect of statins given for many years.