Can Statins Worsen Dementia Symptoms? A Surprising Pilot Study Suggests So
Dr. Kumar’s Take:
This small but well-designed study raises an important question: Could statins, widely prescribed to protect the heart, be harming the brain—especially in those already struggling with dementia? Researchers found that stopping statins in Alzheimer’s patients led to better memory scores, while restarting the statins brought the memory issues back. This suggests some patients with dementia might benefit from pausing their statin, under medical supervision.
Key Takeaways:
✔ Stopping statins improved memory scores in patients with dementia.
✔ Restarting statins brought the memory decline back.
✔ No serious side effects were reported during withdrawal or rechallenge.
✔ Cholesterol levels predictably went up off statins and dropped again when restarted.