Statin Drugs Not Linked to Memory Decline in Study

I’m so sick of dubious studies announcing the side effects of statins are essentially a form of patient delusion. Side effects are real and much more prevalent than acknowledged by cardiologists and drug companies. I myself experienced significant cognitive and memory problems among other issues on all the different statins.

1,037 people with brain volume MRI and cognitive decline testing vs N=1 comments saying statins make my brain foggy.

Amnesia and confusion are both listed as side effects of statins. I want to take rovastatin because of its anti-inflammatory properties, but have to take very low doses and not everyday because of the negative cognitive effects I've experienced.

Not scientifically proven, but based on my personal experience, I could distinctly tell the difference after stop taking statin. My head is clearer in thinking and analyzing, Less fussy and more with it. I welcome this “coincidence,”

It seems a small study size and only six years. An organized clinical trial with more people, over a longer time with not just Australians but many nationalities might show different results.

I’d rather try to avoid statins. So, I eat a plant based whole food diet — I avoid animal products and processed foods. Lots of veggies and fruit, legumes (beans, chickpeas, split peas, and lentils) and WHOLE grains, and nuts and seeds in moderation. I cook most meals at home, since options for eating out are very limited. And there is increasing evidence that dementia is associated with poor vascular health, which is linked to a poor diet, especially the Standard American Diet (SAD). Cholesterol (found in animal products) in the diet is not the culprit — it’s the associated saturated fatty acids (also found primarily in animal products) which increase blood cholesterol levels, ultimately leading to blocked arteries and vascular disease. Other important steps include exercise, avoiding alcohol and tobacco, and maintaining a healthy weight. I agree with the adage: A prescription for drugs is a permission slip for an unhealthy lifestyle. Drugs have a place, but only as a last resort, not as the first resort.

How many pointless observational studies does it take before the findings justify an actual serious study that determines (or fails to determine) causation?

This study doesn't seem to provide much actual evidence for their hypothesis that statins do not contribute to dementia. This study is too small, too short and starts with patients too old. To demonstrate such evidence this research needs to start before the onset of typical Alzheimer's is 65 years old or older. The patients in this study started at 70 or older. Does anyone believe our current testing is sensitive and comprehensive enough to find the smaller changes at the actual onset? 6 years is too short to observe real differences for those with gradual onset. This study's conclusion may be correct. But I don't see any "proof" here.

As a user of statins I experience leg cramps, hand cramps and a general feeling of being off. I take a break every so often and begin to feel much better after a couple of days. I talk to my GP and Cardio doc and get the blank look of someone who thinks I am daft. I was "allowed" to change to a statin that is one fourth of the previous dose. The side effects are a bit less but still there. I follow a very low cholesterol diet to assist the statin. Therefore, I feel like I can go on a statin free holiday now and then.

As a neurologist who specializes in dementia I always have my patients take a 3 month hiatus from their statin. In most instances I see no improvement, however there have been dramatic exceptions where the cognitive problems resolved the once the statin was stopped. In these cases, we try a different statin, if tolerated. While there has been compelling evidence to support the use of statins, I am concerned that studies such as this will prevent recognition of the notable exceptions of cognitive impairment related to the medication. Case reports should still have a place in our awareness.

Prefix "Co-" meaning jointly. Root word "incidence" meaning the occurrence, rate, or frequency of a disease, crime, or something else undesirable. Combined: "Coincidence." If you take a statin and look for memory or cognitive issues, you will find them overlapping. It's good to recall Ambrose Bierce's definition: effect, n. The second of two phenomena which always occur together in the same order. The first, called a Cause, is said to generate the other -- which is no more sensible than it would be for one who has never seen a dog except in the pursuit of a rabbit to declare the rabbit the cause of a dog. I hope this study is considered good evidence because strokes, which happen at a lower rate in patients taking statins, can be really bad for cognition. Good article.

Positive reports in the media about statins exceed the negative ones. Considering the ongoing marketing campaigns driven by drug companies, this imbalance creates a skeptical public that finds it difficult to know which isolated research reports to trust.

I think it would be helpful to look at specific statins. They are all chemically quite different so have different potential to cross the blood brain barrier (is the central nervous system)

I experienced cognitive problems when I took statins, as well as muscle cramps in my legs. Both problems dissipated after I stopped using the medications. I find it unsettling that this serious side effective is increasingly minimized. The cognitive problems I initially encountered were similar to the "normal" cognitive challenges of aging - but more intense, which makes them easy to assign to "getting old."