Memory loss and statins

Do statins affect your memory or other cognitive abilities? There have been many anecdotes and reports about statins seeming to affect mental performance. Scientific studies have not shown much in support of those ideas, at least for most patients.

Different people react to drugs differently, so nobody is saying that there is no way statins can effect the memory of some individuals.

A 2003 literature review published in the journal Pharmacology concluded that the published information on the subject is “conflicted”. The Wall Stree Journal had an article in Feb 2008 about the cognitive side effects of Lipitor and other statins. It quoted a New York doctor who reports patients who have concentration and memory problems while on these medications. It is anecdotal evidence of course, and the article mentions a forthcoming study from the University of California at San Diego into state effects of several cognitive functions. A July 2008 report from the University of Rochester indicated that scientists found statins have an effect on glial progenitor cells in the brain. While not conclusive in any way, this suggests that statins can reduce brain plasticity. Similarly, the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging found that statin usage significantly lowered the risk of cognitive impairment in older people.

Simvastatin is the most lipophilic of the statins, which may allow it to more easily cross the blood-brain barrier. "Lipophilic" means fat-loving, and the brain is composed largely of fats. Lovastatin is also lipophilic while rosuvastatin and pravastatin are hydrophilic (prefer water) and atorvastatin is somewhere in between.

The protein amyloid is hypothesized to be connected with Alzheimer’s disease. Amyloid deposits as plaques, and experimental studies suggest links between cholesterol intake and production of amyloid in the body. However, a study shows no effects on cerebrospinal amyloid levels due to simvastin. Several studies have shown a correlation between statin use and a lower risk of dementia. A University of Michigan study in 2008 found that statins reduced the risk of cognitive impairment in people at high risk for dementia. The study looked at healty people over age 60 and found that those who were given statins developed dementia at only half the rate of those who were not given the drug.

The Mayo Clinic’s website says that the risk of memory loss is very small compared with the benefits of statins.

Boston University scientists finds that simvastatin (Zocor) could actually lower the risk of Alzheimer's. A recent French study found that low levels of HDL - "good" cholesterol - is correlated with the declining memory and dementia, in which case the use of statins would tend to help with cognitive skills. It is thought that HDL helps memory with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Statins do largely the same thing, so that would tend to indicate they actually help with memory.

Statins for strokes.