Key points from article :
A new study suggests that statins – the UK’s most commonly prescribed drugs – may help reduce the risk of developing dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Published in the Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry, the research was led by scientists from Hallym University College of Medicine in South Korea. While statins are primarily used to lower levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol and prevent heart disease, this large-scale study adds to growing evidence that they could also have a protective effect on brain health.
Researchers analysed health records from over half a million adults across 11 university hospitals. Participants were grouped based on their LDL cholesterol levels and followed for signs of dementia in the months after their cholesterol tests. The results showed that people with lower LDL levels were significantly less likely to develop dementia or Alzheimer’s. Those with LDL levels below 1.8 mmol/L had a 26% lower risk of dementia, while those taking statins saw an additional reduction in risk, even if their cholesterol levels were already low.
Interestingly, the study also found that extremely low LDL levels (below 0.8 mmol/L) didn’t offer extra protection, suggesting there may be a threshold beyond which the benefits no longer increase.
Experts like Dr Julia Dudley of Alzheimer’s Research UK welcomed the findings but urged caution. Because this was an observational study, it can’t definitively prove that lowering cholesterol or taking statins prevents dementia. Still, the results support existing evidence linking cardiovascular health and brain health – and may help inform future research into dementia prevention.
