A 15-year study suggests that statins, commonly used cholesterol-lowering drugs, could reduce the risk of dementia by up to 15%. The research indicates that the earlier in life these drugs are taken, the higher the chances of avoiding the disease.
The study, which tracked more than 132,000 people in Denmark between 2006 and 2021, found that individuals who began taking statins during the study period were 10% less likely to develop dementia. This risk reduction increased to 15% for those who started statins earlier.
The findings were presented at the annual congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) in Munich and simultaneously published in the Lancet Regional Health Europe journal. Experts believe high levels of LDL cholesterol, which statins reduce, can increase dementia risk by affecting blood vessels supplying the brain.
Dr. Tummas Ternhamar from Copenhagen University Hospital, who presented the research, noted that all participants in the study had type 2 diabetes. He suggested the findings support the idea that statins might one day be offered more broadly as part of a package of measures to reduce dementia risk.
While this observational study suggests an association, it does not prove that statins directly reduce dementia risk. However, other trials have also indicated that statins may reduce the risk of dementia, making these findings plausible.