Can statins bring on dementia?

Can statins bring on dementia?

The researchers found that of 300 older adults with mildly impaired thinking and memory, those using “lipophilic” statins were more likely to develop dementia over the next eight years. Lipophilic statins include such widely used medications as simvastatin (Zocor), atorvastatin (Lipitor) and lovastatin (Altoprev).

Do statins alter the risk or progression of dementia?

No. Moderate-intensity statin therapy (with pravastatin or simvastatin) doesn’t prevent progression to dementia in patients at increased risk.

What medications can worsen dementia?

Medications: Some Drugs Make Dementia Worse

• Benadryl, found in cough syrups and over-the-counter allergy and sleeping pills such as Tylenol PM®.
• Bladder pills such as Tolterodine/Detrol®, Oxybutynin/Ditropan.
• Tropsium/Sanctura®, do help when patients need to urinate often.

Do statins reduce risk of incident dementia and Alzheimer disease?

We found that statins users, without baseline cognitive dysfunction, had a significantly reduced risk of developing all-caused dementia, AD, and MCI. Statins use was associated with a 15.1%, 28.1%, and 26.3% lowered risk of developing all-caused dementia, AD, and MCI respectively.

Do statins reduce dementia?

Statins have been convincingly shown to reduce the risk of atherosclerotic heart disease and ischemic stroke. In addition to their cardiovascular benefits, statins appear modestly to reduce the risk for developing Alzheimer’s dementia.

Can taking statins cause memory loss?

Neurological side effects The FDA warns on statin labels that some people have developed memory loss or confusion while taking statins. These side effects reverse once you stop taking the medication.

Why are doctors pushing statins?

A study published Monday is pushing back against the notion that up to 40 percent of Americans should be taking statin drugs to reduce the risk of heart disease. The study, in the Annals of Internal Medicine, argues that current medical guidelines haven’t adequately considered the risks from these widely used drugs.

What can you take instead of statins?

7 cholesterol-lowering alternatives to statins

• Fibrates. Mostly used for lowering triglyceride levels in patients whose levels are very high and could cause pancreatitis.
• Plant stanols and sterols.
• Cholestyramine and other bile acid-binding resins.
• Niacin.
• Policosanol.
• Red yeast rice extract (RYRE)
• Natural products.

What are the 3 most commonly prescribed drugs for dementia?

Three cholinesterase inhibitors are commonly prescribed:

• Donepezil (Aricept) is approved to treat all stages of the disease. It’s taken once a day as a pill.
• Galantamine (Razadyne) is approved to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer’s.
• Rivastigmine (Exelon) is approved for mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.

Can statins cause mental confusion?

The FDA warns on statin labels that some people have developed memory loss or confusion while taking statins. These side effects reverse once you stop taking the medication.

Is there a link between statins and dementia?

The link between increased statin use and the dementia epidemic As noted by the organization Be Brain Fit(BBF), there has been a massive increase in the number of Americans taking statin drugs like Crestor and Lipitor in recent years.

What are the effects of statins on the brain?

One of the greatest concerns raised by experts is the potential for statins to cause damage to the brain, triggering memory loss and dementia. The link between increased statin use and the dementia epidemic

How are lipophilic statins linked to Alzheimer’s disease?

Over time, PET imaging of lipophilic statin users also showed a substantial decline in metabolism in the posterior cingulate cortex, the region of the brain known to decline the most significantly in the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

What are the dangers of taking statin drugs?

One of the greatest concerns raised by experts is the potential for statins to cause damage to the brain, triggering memory loss and dementia. As noted by the organization Be Brain Fit (BBF), there has been a massive increase in the number of Americans taking statin drugs like Crestor and Lipitor in recent years.