Cholesterol-lowering medications, known as statins, may reduce the risk of developing dementia by 15%. The results of a large 15-year study show that the earlier a patient starts taking these medications, the greater the potential for preventing the disease.
Experts estimate that by 2050, the number of people living with dementia worldwide will triple, reaching 153 million. However, scientists believe that nearly half of dementia cases could potentially be prevented or delayed. A new study presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress in Munich and published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe also offers hope in this direction.
Scientists analyzed data from more than 132,000 people in Denmark between 2006 and 2021. All participants in the study had type 2 diabetes. The analysis showed that among people who started taking statins later, the likelihood of developing dementia was reduced by 10%. However, among those who began treatment at an earlier stage, the risk fell by 15%. Notably, the results were identical in women and men.
Statins are among the most widely used medications in the world. They lower levels of so-called “bad” cholesterol (LDL) in the blood, which in turn helps prevent plaque buildup in the arteries and reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes. According to scientists, high cholesterol can narrow and damage the blood vessels that supply the brain, impairing blood flow to brain tissue and contributing to the development of dementia. Therefore, regulating cholesterol may help protect the brain in the long term.
According to Tumas Ternhamar, a physician at Copenhagen University Hospital and the study’s author, controlling cholesterol from middle age is critically important for dementia prevention. He suggests that in the future, statin treatment, together with physical activity and a healthy diet, could become part of a standard dementia-prevention package.
Independent experts have welcomed the new findings, noting that statins are inexpensive and widely accessible medications. Although this was an observational study and further research is needed to establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship between statin use and reduced dementia risk, scientists broadly agree on one key medical principle: what is good for the heart is also beneficial for the brain.
