Long‑term study finds statins may cut dementia risk by up to 15%

A 15‑year study indicates that statins can cut the risk of dementia by up to 15%, with earlier use associated with greater protection against the disease.

Global estimates project that the number of individuals living with dementia will almost triple to 153 million by 2050. However, experts suggest that nearly half of all dementia cases could be prevented or postponed.

Research presented at the world’s largest cardiology conference in Munich now indicates that cholesterol‑lowering medications may substantially reduce the likelihood of developing dementia.

In the largest study of its kind, investigators followed more than 132,000 Danish participants from 2006 to 2021.

Participants who began taking statins during the study period showed a 10% lower risk of dementia, while those who started earlier experienced a 15% reduction. The findings were comparable across both sexes.

The results were released on Sunday at the annual European Society of Cardiology (ESC) congress and simultaneously appeared in the Lancet Regional Health Europe.

Prof. Isabel Goncalves, an ESC communications committee member uninvolved in the study, praised the results, noting that because statins are widely accessible and affordable, the implications could be significant.

Statins rank among the most widely prescribed medications worldwide. They lower low‑density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, thereby limiting arterial plaque formation and reducing the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular disease. Emerging evidence suggests that statins may also provide long‑term protection for the brain.

Researchers attribute this benefit to robust evidence linking elevated LDL cholesterol to a higher risk of dementia, as it can harden or narrow the blood vessels supplying the brain.

LDL cholesterol (LDL‑C) promotes plaque buildup, and the consequent interference with cerebral blood flow can elevate dementia risk.

Earlier work by the Lancet Dementia Commission reported that managing 14 modifiable risk factors—from childhood through adulthood—could prevent or delay up to 45% of dementia cases.

“Identifying and treating high LDL‑C levels in mid‑life is a key highlighted risk factor,” said Dr. Tummas Ternhamar of Copenhagen University Hospital, who presented the findings at the conference.

All participants in the 15‑year study had type 2 diabetes. Nonetheless, Ternhamar noted that the results bolster the notion that, in the future, statins could be offered to the general population as part of a broader strategy—including regular physical activity and a balanced diet—to lower dementia risk.

Speaking to reporters in Munich, he stated: “Our study supports the concept that tackling dementia risk requires addressing multiple factors concurrently, and cholesterol may indeed belong on that list.

“The Lancet commission already adopts a multicomponent approach, advising that high LDL cholesterol be identified and treated from mid‑life. Our findings further underscore that timing matters—early intervention appears more beneficial than later action.”

Among the 132,585 participants tracked by Ternhamar and colleagues, 2.7% subsequently developed dementia.

Relative to no statin use, early statin therapy correlated with a 15% lower relative risk of dementia over a decade, while late initiation correlated with a 10% reduction.

Ternhamar noted that researchers are actively exploring the precise mechanisms by which statins may reduce dementia risk.

“Statins efficiently lower LDL cholesterol and safeguard against atherosclerosis and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease,” he explained. “This may consequently protect against cerebrovascular atherosclerosis, ischemic stroke, diminished blood flow, and brain tissue damage, providing a plausible explanation for our observations.”

Dr. Honorine Lebraud, senior partnerships manager at Alzheimer’s Research UK, who was not part of the study, commented: “This observational work adds to the expanding body of evidence connecting cardiovascular and brain health. It underscores that what benefits the heart also benefits the brain.”

“Further investigation is required to establish a direct causal link between statins and reduced dementia risk. Nevertheless, this study provides valuable insights into how cholesterol and cardiovascular health influence dementia risk, while also delineating avenues for future research.”

Prof. Bryan Williams, chief scientific and medical officer at the British Heart Foundation, emphasized that because the study is observational, it can demonstrate an association but cannot confirm that statins directly reduce dementia risk.

“Nevertheless, trial data exist indicating that statins can lower dementia risk, making the findings of this study plausible.”

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