Statins May Lower Dementia Risk, Study Suggests
According to a study that spanned 15 years, taking statins can reduce the risk of developing dementia by around 15%. Interestingly, the benefits seem to increase the earlier these medications are started in life.
As the number of individuals living with dementia worldwide is projected to surge to 153 million by 2050, experts believe that nearly half of those cases could either be prevented or postponed.
A recent presentation in Munich, during the world’s largest heart conference, unveiled findings indicating that these cholesterol-lowering drugs could significantly minimize the likelihood of developing dementia.
This study, the most extensive of its kind, monitored over 132,000 participants in Denmark from 2006 to 2021.
Those who began taking statins during the study showed a 10% lower risk of developing dementia, while starting the medication early led to a 15% reduction in risk. The effects were consistent across both women and men.
The results were shared on Sunday at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) annual congress and published simultaneously in the Lancet Regional Health Europe journal.
Professor Isabel Goncalves, part of the ESC communication committee and not involved in the study, praised the results. “Given that statins are readily available and reasonably priced, these findings could have significant implications,” she noted.
Statins are already some of the most widely prescribed medications globally. They work by lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels in the blood, a factor linked to plaque buildup in arteries, which increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and heart disease. However, it appears that statins might also play a protective role for brain health over the long term.
The rationale lies in the robust evidence suggesting that elevated LDL cholesterol heightens the chances of developing dementia by hardening or narrowing the blood vessels supplying the brain.
Previous studies from the Lancet dementia commission indicated that addressing 14 modifiable risk factors—starting from childhood and continuing throughout life—could potentially prevent or delay 45% of dementia cases.
“Identifying and managing high levels of LDL cholesterol starting in midlife is one of those critical risk factors,” explained Dr. Tummas Ternhamar from Copenhagen University Hospital, who presented the new research findings at the conference.
All participants in the 15-year study had type 2 diabetes. Still, Ternhamar suggested that these findings support the notion that one day, statins could be offered to everyone as part of a broader approach—coupled with maintaining physical activity and a balanced diet—to lower their dementia risk.
Speaking to the press in Munich, he stated, “Our study backs the idea that addressing the risk of dementia effectively requires tackling multiple factors simultaneously, and cholesterol is likely among them.”
“The Lancet commission supports this multifaceted approach, suggesting that high LDL cholesterol should be identified and treated beginning in midlife. What our study adds is that timing appears crucial—intervening earlier seems more beneficial than waiting,” he added.
Out of the 132,585 individuals tracked, 2.7% went on to develop dementia.
In terms of timing, initiating statin treatment early correlated with a 15% lower relative risk of dementia over ten years, while starting later was associated with a 10% reduction in risk over the same period.
Ternhamar mentioned that researchers are still examining precisely how statins might contribute to a decreased risk of dementia.
“Statins lower LDL cholesterol effectively and protect against atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. This could subsequently protect against cerebrovascular issues—like ischemic stroke and diminished blood flow—potentially explaining our findings,” he remarked.
Dr. Honorine Lebraud, a senior partnerships manager at Alzheimer’s Research UK who did not partake in the research, added, “This observational study contributes to the accumulating evidence linking cardiovascular health with brain health, reinforcing that what benefits the heart often benefits the brain.”
“Further research is required to establish a direct connection between statins and reduced dementia risk. However, this study provides significant insights into how cholesterol and cardiovascular health may influence dementia susceptibility and identifies areas for future investigation,” she stated.
Professor Bryan Williams, chief scientific and medical officer of the British Heart Foundation, noted the importance of recognizing that this was an observational study, implying it could indicate a correlation, but cannot definitively prove that statins themselves lower dementia risk.
“That said, existing trial evidence does indicate that statins do reduce this risk, making the findings of this study certainly plausible,” he concluded.
