In most reports, the main symptom related to statins was short-term memory loss that occurred a few months after the start of statin therapy or after a dosage increase. Cognitive impairment was usually reversible upon discontinuation of statin therapy.
Do statins affect thinking?
Increased exposure to statin medication has been shown to cause cognitive side effects. High doses and poor metabolism can lead to increased exposure to medications. The dose dependent cognitive impairment relationship reported in the atorvastatin safety study suggests that high doses cause cognitive side effects.
Are statins bad for your brain?
“We reviewed all the studies that had been done, and found that the most rigorous studies show that statins do not commonly cause memory loss. If anything, long-term use of statins might have a beneficial effect on the brain since they help prevent strokes and protect the health of arteries in the brain.”
What are the neurological side effects of statins?
The most common adverse effects include muscle symptoms, fatigue and cognitive problems. A smaller proportion of patients report peripheral neuropathy—burning, numbness or tingling in their extremities—poor sleep, and greater irritability and aggression.
Can high cholesterol cause memory?
Studies Find Low HDL or High LDL Raises Memory Loss Risk
A study in 2002, published in the Archives of Neurology, found that women with high levels of LDL had increased degrees of cognitive impairment, including memory loss.
Do statin drugs cause 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).
Does high cholesterol cause brain fog?
Your brain contains a lot of cholesterol and too little of it increases your risk of dementia, depression, and even suicide. Avoiding dietary cholesterol not only puts your brain at risk, but also your life. Being mindful of what you eat is a huge part of reducing brain fog and getting your brain back on track.
Does statin use cause memory decline in the elderly?
Statins Don’t Cause Memory Loss in Older Adults, Study Concludes. A new study reports that statins do not cause additional memory loss in older adults. Experts note that some people avoid statins because of concerns over dementia, muscle pain, and diabetes risk.
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.
Can rosuvastatin affect memory?
Memory loss and cognitive impairment have been reported in the literature in association with several 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins), but we found no published case reports associated with rosuvastatin.
At what age should you stop statins?
Statins are drugs that lower your cholesterol. But if you are age 75 or older and you haven’t had symptoms of heart disease, statins may be a bad idea. Here’s why: Adults age 75 and older may not need statins.
What are the bad side effects of atorvastatin?
Side effects of atorvastatin include:
- Gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea.
- Cold symptoms such as a runny or stuffy nose.
- Joint pain.
- Insomnia.
- Urinary tract infection.
- Nausea.
- Loss of appetite.
- Indigestion symptoms such as stomach discomfort or pain.
Can high cholesterol cause dementia?
High blood cholesterol can raise the risk of certain types of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.
What happens if I stop taking statins?
You won’t get any withdrawal symptoms. However, stopping atorvastatin may cause your cholesterol to rise. This increases your risk of heart attacks and strokes. If you want to stop taking your medicine, it’s important to find another way to lower your cholesterol.
Can high cholesterol cause mental confusion?
The FDA approved label changes for statins that list memory loss and confusion as a “non-serious and reversible side-effect.” Cholesterol is an important part of your brain. In fact, 25% of the body’s cholesterol is found there. So it may seem like statins could affect how your brain works.
What causes poor concentration and memory?
Concentration difficulties can be caused by medical, cognitive or psychological problems or may be related to sleep disorders or medications, alcohol or drugs. Psychological conditions that can interfere with concentration include anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, emotional trauma, and stress.
How do you get rid of brain fog instantly?
Treatment – ways to end brain fog
- Spend less time on computer and mobile phone – remind yourself to take a break.
- Positive thinking, reduce stress.
- Change your diet.
- Get enough sleep – 7-8 hours a day, go to bed at 10pm or no later than midnight.
- Regular exercise.
- Avoid alcohol, smoking, and drinking coffee in the afternoon.
Do statins cause more harm than good?
Researchers warn that unless a patient is at high risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke, statins may cause more harm than good‘.
Do statins make you age faster?
Statins do have side effects, all medication does to some extent. And some of those side effects reported could also be deemed to be signs of premature aging. Memory loss and weakness or fatigue are both listed under ‘uncommon side effects’ on the NHS website.
Which statin has the least amount of side effects?
In the analysis of 135 previous studies, which included nearly 250,000 people combined, researchers found that the drugs simvastatin (Zocor) and pravastatin (Pravachol) had the fewest side effects in this class of medications. They also found that lower doses produced fewer side effects in general.
Can long term use of statins cause dementia?
Four studies evaluated the association between long-term statin use (>3 years) and dementia risk. The overall pooled RR was RR 0.37 (95% CI 0.19–0.73). Five studies also estimated dementia risk in patients with a medium-long exposure of statins (2–3 years). The overall RR was 0.66 (95% CI 0.52–0.83).
Do statins shorten your life?
“The study showed that taking statins for 6 years reduced death from cardiovascular disease by 24 percent, and overall mortality by 23 percent.”
What happens when you stop taking statins cold turkey?
Stopping your statin has been linked to increased risk for cardiovascular events (like heart attack) and death in patients with coronary artery disease. In a recent 8-year study, more than half of patients stopped their statin believing they were experiencing a side effect.