Despite being the most prescribed drug in the UK, many people still worry that they are risking cognitive problems in later life every time they swallow their daily dose.
Not only does the latest research demonstrate that statins are not associated with an increase in incidence of or speed of decline in dementia, but it also shows that patients taking statins might be protected from cognitive decline by taking the drug.
The study looked at over 1,000 Australians between the ages of 70 and 90, looking at both brain volumes by MRI and objective neuropsychological testing over a period of six years. The study concluded that:
“statin therapy was not associated with any greater decline in memory or cognition over 6 years. These data are reassuring for consumers concerned about statin use and risk of memory decline.”
Click here for a link to the research paper, Effects of Statins on Memory, Cognition, and Brain Volume in the Elderly, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.