(NaturalHealth365) Tens of millions of adults swallow a cholesterol pill every morning, trusting that the pill is protecting their heart and brain. That trust now faces a serious test, because new research on statins and dementia is deeply troubling. In a major new study of more than 250,000 adults, statin users had more than double the dementia risk of non-users.

We find that number disturbing, especially if you have watched a loved one fade away from dementia. The study can’t prove that statins caused the dementia, but anyone taking these pills deserves to see the numbers, and we doubt many doctors will bring them up.

What the statins and dementia study found

The findings, published October 29 in Frontiers in Pharmacology, came from health records in two large projects. The American project, called All of Us, included 83,355 adults, while the British project, called UK Biobank, included 173,282 adults. Everyone in the study was 40 or older.

To keep things fair, the team matched users and non-users on age, weight, health, other drugs and a dementia gene. Even after all that matching, the difference stayed large: Statin users had 2.22 times the dementia risk in the U.S. and 2.54 times the risk in the U.K.

The real-world numbers are just as alarming. In the U.S. group, dementia struck about 65 of every 10,000 statin users each year, compared with about 31 non-users. The U.K. group showed the same pattern, at about 12 versus 6.

The risk went beyond one type of dementia

This risk wasn’t limited to one form of dementia, either. U.S. statin users had about twice the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and 2.3 times the risk of vascular dementia, and both diagnoses are heartbreaking for families.

Even more concerning, dose seemed to matter. People on high-intensity statins had 14% more risk than people on lower-intensity statins.

Our readers know about the prescription chain reaction, where one drug’s side effect leads to yet another drug, and we would hate to see memory problems become the next link. So, if you notice new forgetfulness on a statin, don’t let anyone call the problem “just getting older.”

A clue about CoQ10

Why would a cholesterol drug affect the brain at all? Statins block the pathway your body uses to make cholesterol, and sadly, that same pathway also helps make coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which your cells need for energy. Your brain uses a huge amount of energy, so we think this connection deserves far more attention.

The researchers tested a protein called COQ7, which helps your body build CoQ10, and found that COQ7 explained about 8% of the link between statins and dementia. Lower LDL cholesterol explained none, and our look at cholesterol guidelines showed why those numbers deserve a second look.

The team did not measure CoQ10 directly, so this clue needs more testing. Even so, the idea is troubling: A drug sold to protect you may interfere with a nutrient your cells need.

Why this warning deserves your attention

This is not the first concern about statins and memory. Back in 2012, the FDA added memory loss and confusion to statin labels based on patient reports, although the agency said those problems usually cleared up after people stopped the drug.

To make matters more complex, people who get statins may also have blood vessel problems to begin with, and the new study’s authors caution against changing treatment based on their results alone.

Still, here’s what we keep asking: Why are these drugs handed out so freely while serious brain questions remain unanswered? Two large groups pointed the same way, and the risk grew with stronger statins. In our view, that pattern is far too serious to ignore.

How to protect your brain and your heart

Keep in mind, you shouldn’t just stop a statin on your own, especially after a heart attack or stroke. Instead, take this study to your next appointment and ask these questions:

• Do I truly need a statin, based on my whole heart risk?
• Could a lower dose or a different treatment work for me?
• Should I have my memory checked and my CoQ10 level tested?

A good doctor will welcome those questions, and if yours won’t, we would look for one who will.

The natural path to a healthier heart and brain

We have never believed that a pill is the whole answer to heart disease. Real protection starts on your plate and in your daily habits, where you have the most power.

Begin with organic vegetables, beans, nuts, berries, olive oil and wild-caught fish, and then cut out ultra-processed foods as much as you can. The soluble fiber in beans also helps lower LDL cholesterol naturally.

From there, ask a trusted doctor to check your vitamin D and magnesium levels. If you take a statin, also ask whether a CoQ10 supplement makes sense for you.

Finally, protect your blood vessels, because what harms your arteries also harms your brain. Keep your blood pressure and blood sugar healthy, and treat your sleep as seriously as your cholesterol number.

Your memory holds your whole life story, and that story is worth fighting for. So, don’t settle for a rushed prescription refill. Ask the hard questions, demand real answers and take charge of your health today.

Want to learn how to protect your memory for years to come?  Order the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Summit today.

Sources for this article include:

Frontiersin.org