Can Statins Cause Dementia-Like Symptoms?
Alzheimers Experts Speak About How Medications Mimic Memory Loss
Apr 27, 2009
According to the Alzheimers Research Trust there has been a huge increase in the diagnosed cases of dementia in the UK. 1 in 3 over-65s will die with some form of dementia. World-wide the problem is even more staggering - there are 4.6 million new cases of dementia every year.
Can Statins Be Causing Some Dementia Diagnoses?
Louise Morse and Roger Hitchins, experts in the care of Alzheimers and Dementia sufferers at Pilgrim Homes in the United Kingdom, were interviewed on Genesis TV by Gordon Pettie, Sunday 26th May 2009. Pilgrim Homes specialize in providing a Christian-based caring environment for dementia and Alzheimers sufferers in the UK.
Symptoms that can Mimic Dementia
Louise Morse said that often people who have a poor memory start to worry that they may be developing dementia. However, she went on to say, there are many other things that can cause memory loss that need to be looked at first:
- Depression - many elderly people are depressed and if this is treated, memory returns to normal for the age-group.
- Poor Nourishment - many elderly people do not eat properly for various reasons. Poor nourishment will affect memory.
- Statins - medications that are prescribed to many people for lowering cholesterol levels - can occasionally create memory loss symptoms.
Studies Into Possible Link Between Statins and Dementia
The allegations regarding the link between Statins and Dementia were first published in the 8th February 2008 edition of The Wall Street Journal. Dr. Orli Etingin, vice chairman of medicine at New York Presbyterian Hospital - Weill Cornell Medical Center, is quoted as saying that the statin drug Lipitor "makes women stupid."
Dr. Etingin was referring to several cases she had personally seen in which patients taking statins found themselves unable to concentrate, remember words, and exhibited other cognitive deficits. The deficits went away when the statin was stopped, according to Dr. Etingin.
A Balanced View from an MD
Kristie Leong MD writing on Apr 1, 2009 stated that in a large analysis looking at how statin drugs affect memory which was published on Medscape, researchers found a variety of complaints of short term memory loss and confusion associated with use of statins. She states that there were even some cases of amnesia reported by statin users.
Fortunately, all memory loss reversed once the statin was stopped. The researchers were quick to add that no cause and effect could be determined from these reports of statin’s affect on memory. She offered the following advice to users of statins:
- Some users of statins are exhibiting fewer symptoms of Alzheimers at autopsy, although clinical studies have not yet confirmed this link.
- Some statins can cross the blood-brain barrier more easily than others - those with poor memory can ask their MD or GP to switch to another type, e.g. prevastatin
- Look for other ways of reducing cholersterol in discussion with the MD/GP
Symptons of Dementia
Poor memory is not the only symptom used in diagnosing Dementia. For a diagnosis to be made there also needs to be such symptoms as:
- Personality and mood changes, agression, paranoia
- Inability to recognise people and places (aphasia)
- Sundowning and hallucination
- Confusion
In addition medical tests may be need to be done to confirm diagnosis.
Self diagnosis is not recommended - please consult a physician,
References:
In Focus, Genesis TV, April 25, 2009.
Louise Morse and Roger Hitchins, Pilgrim Homes, UK
