Research is conflicting on whetherstatinscan cause memory loss. Statins are a prescription medication that is used to treathigh cholesterol.
High cholesterol increases your risk of chronic health conditions, includingvascular disease,strokes, andheart attacks. Taking statins as prescribed is an important way tolower your cholesteroland reduce your risk of these conditions.
Statins are safe and beneficial for most people but haveside effectsanddrug interactions.
This article will go over what research shows about cognitive problems and statins, including whether there is any evidence of memory loss being linked to taking statins.
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What Are Statins?
Statins Cause Memory Loss: Where Did the Claim Come From?
Etingin claimed that several of her patients taking statins reported that they could not concentrate, remember words, or otherwise experienced cognitive deficits. Etingin claimed that these problems went away when the patients stopped taking statins.
Although the claims got media attention, Etingin was not thefirst person to bring up concerns about a link between statins to memory loss. There had been anecdotal reports of statin use and cognitive issues for years.
What Are the Different Types of Memory?
Statins and Memory Loss: Is There Evidence?
After the claims about a link between cognitive problems and statins emerged, researchers attempted to determine if there was research evidence to support the anecdotes.
What Is Anecdotal Evidence?Anecdotal evidence is based on the experiences people report and the observations they have made. They are not based on data from scientific research.
What Is Anecdotal Evidence?
Anecdotal evidence is based on the experiences people report and the observations they have made. They are not based on data from scientific research.
To that end, the researchers reviewed the medical literature and published their results in theAnnals of Internal Medicinein 2013.
The researchers did not find an association between statins and mental problems. However, they admitted that none of the major randomized trials with statins that they had reviewed systematically looked for cognitive decline and that the symptom could have been subtle.
Therefore, the researchers concluded that no definitive statement about statins and memory problems could be made one way or the other.
Another major review of research published in 2021 looked at 24 studies that included 1,404,459 people to see if statin use was linked to cognitive impairment.
The researchers concluded that “there was no evidence of adverse cognitive effects, including [the] incidence of dementia, deterioration in global cognition, or specific cognitive domains associated with statin use in individuals aged ≥60 years,” but that “studies should examine this association in studies with longer follow-up periods.”
Studies on Statins and Memory Loss
In the last decade, there have been more studies looking for evidence of a relationship between statins and memory problems. Here are a few examples of what the findings showed:
Should I Take Statins If I Have Memory Problems?Research on the link between memory loss/cognitive problems, and statin use has not reached a clear “yes or no” answer about whether there is a causal relationship.If your provider wants you to take a statin, they have decided that any risk or side effects related to the medication are worth the benefits you will get from taking it.If you’re concerned that taking a statin will affect your memory, if you already have cognitive problems, or you’re at risk for conditions like dementia or Alzheimer’s, talk to your provider.
Should I Take Statins If I Have Memory Problems?
Research on the link between memory loss/cognitive problems, and statin use has not reached a clear “yes or no” answer about whether there is a causal relationship.If your provider wants you to take a statin, they have decided that any risk or side effects related to the medication are worth the benefits you will get from taking it.If you’re concerned that taking a statin will affect your memory, if you already have cognitive problems, or you’re at risk for conditions like dementia or Alzheimer’s, talk to your provider.
Research on the link between memory loss/cognitive problems, and statin use has not reached a clear “yes or no” answer about whether there is a causal relationship.
If your provider wants you to take a statin, they have decided that any risk or side effects related to the medication are worth the benefits you will get from taking it.
If you’re concerned that taking a statin will affect your memory, if you already have cognitive problems, or you’re at risk for conditions like dementia or Alzheimer’s, talk to your provider.
Can High Cholesterol Cause Memory Loss?
Statins: Is Memory Loss a Side Effect?
Statins can have side effects, but not everyone experiences them. One common side effect of statins ismuscle pain(myalgia). Some people who take statins may have changes to theirliver functionorblood sugar levels(especially if they have or are at risk forliver diseaseordiabetes).
Many people take statins without any problems. If people have side effects from statins, they usually go away with time. If they don’t, the side effects will often improve once a person stops taking a statin.
According to the American Heart Association, there is a lot of evidence that muscle pain can be a side effect of statins. While people taking statins sometimes report sleep disruption, memory problems, and cataracts, there is less evidence to prove that the drugs cause.
FDA Guidance on Statins and MemoryAs of 2012, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated its guidance on statin use to include memory loss and confusion as potential side effects. However, they noted that these side effects are considered “non-serious” and reversible.
FDA Guidance on Statins and Memory
As of 2012, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated its guidance on statin use to include memory loss and confusion as potential side effects. However, they noted that these side effects are considered “non-serious” and reversible.
Statins and “Brain Fog”
Some people taking statins report that they have “brain fog.” While brain fog can make it feel hard to remember things, it’s not the same as true memory loss from a condition like dementia.
Are Memory Problems a Side Effect of Statins?
Summary
Researchers have yet to reach an agreement about whether statins are or are not linked to memory loss. To prove that there’s a causal link between statins and memory loss, a prospective randomized trial designed to study the neurocognitive effects of statins would need to be done.
Until more research is done on memory loss and statins, what should providers and patients do if they are concerned about the drug’s potential effect on brain function?
Remember that even if evidence shows that statins cause memory problems, it may not be a common problem—and it may even bereversible.If a person stopped taking the medication, the effect would likely improve.
If you have been prescribed a statin,never stop taking it without talking to your healthcare provider. If you are worried about the drug’s possible effects or you notice changes to your thinking or memory, talk to your provider.
What Are the Benefits of Taking Statins?
Frequently Asked QuestionsAccording to the FDA, some people taking statins may have temporary, non-serious memory problems as a side effect.If people experience memory-related side effects from statins, they are not permanent. The side effects will go away as soon as the medication is stopped.There is no evidence that statin use causes dementia. In fact, some studies have suggested statin use may have a protective effect.There is no evidence that statins cause Alzheimer’s. However, a small study did note that statin use in people who have a gene that increases their risk for Alzheimer’s did not do as well on memory tests. However, people who did not have that gene but who had high cholesterol also did not do as well on the tests.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to the FDA, some people taking statins may have temporary, non-serious memory problems as a side effect.
If people experience memory-related side effects from statins, they are not permanent. The side effects will go away as soon as the medication is stopped.
There is no evidence that statin use causes dementia. In fact, some studies have suggested statin use may have a protective effect.
There is no evidence that statins cause Alzheimer’s. However, a small study did note that statin use in people who have a gene that increases their risk for Alzheimer’s did not do as well on memory tests. However, people who did not have that gene but who had high cholesterol also did not do as well on the tests.
Do Statins Fight Inflammation?
16 Sources
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American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation.Cholesterol drugs for people 75 and older.
American College of Cardiology.Statins don’t cause memory decline in elderly adults.
BrightFocus Foundation.Do statins increase or decrease Alzheimer’s risk?.
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