Statins can reduce dementia risk by up to 15%, long-term study suggests
The cholesterol-busting drugs are more effective the earlier in life they are taken, 15-year research project indicates Statins can lower the risk of dementia by 15%, and the earlier in life they are taken the higher the chances of avoiding the disease, a 15-year study suggests. The number of people living with dementia globally is forecast to nearly triple to 153 million by 2050. But experts…
A 15-year research project reveals that cholesterol-lowering statins can reduce the risk of dementia by up to 15%, with early initiation of the drugs yielding the greatest benefit, according to a study presented at a large heart conference in Munich. The study, which tracked over 132,000 people in Denmark from 2006 to 2021, found that those who began taking statins during the research period were 10% less likely to develop dementia, while those who started early reduced their risk by 15%.
Similar results were observed in both men and women. Experts believe that high levels of LDL cholesterol, a side effect of which can narrow blood vessels to the brain, increase the risk of dementia. The findings, published in the Lancet Regional Health Europe journal, suggest that addressing several risk factors, including high LDL cholesterol, may help prevent or delay up to 45% of dementia cases.
The study's lead author, Dr. Tummas Ternhamar, emphasized the importance of early treatment and the potential of statins in protecting brain health.
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