Taking statins could slash dementia risk - even if you don't have high cholesterol

Taking statins could dramatically trim the hazard of dementia, adjacent successful those who already person debased cholesterol, a large survey has found.

The pill is 1 of the astir commonly-prescribed drugs successful the UK, with astir 7 to 8 cardinal radical taking them to ward disconnected bosom onslaught and stroke.

Researchers present judge that the medicine could trim levels of harmful cholesterin successful the encephalon — which they accidental could support against types of dementia, including the astir common, Alzheimer's.

The South Korean scientists recovered that those with people debased levels of LDL cholesterol—often referred to arsenic the 'bad' type—who weren't connected medicine were  little apt to make dementia, compared to those with higher levels.

But they besides discovered the hazard of dementia reduced further among radical who already had debased levels of cholesterin and were taking statins compared to those who were not, suggesting the drugs supply 'additional protective effects'. 

It has agelong been thought that Alzheimer's disease, the astir communal signifier of dementia, is caused by the accumulation of toxic proteins successful the brain. 

But experts down the caller survey said their findings could alteration the mode doctors deliberation astir the disease. 

'There is intelligibly much to the communicative of Alzheimer's than we archetypal thought,' said Dr Francesco Tamagnini, a neurophysiologist astatine the University of Reading.

'Alzheimer's illness appears [that it] whitethorn beryllium a complication caused by the accumulation of LDL [cholesterol] successful the brain.'

Cholesterol is simply a fatty substance that people exists successful humor vessels.

However, if levels of the harmful benignant — called LDL — go excessively high, it tin clog up the arteries that proviso the body's tissues with blood, expanding the hazard of bosom attacks and stroke.  

This tin effect from a fig of reasons, including a familial predisposition, a precocious abdominous fare and obesity. 

Another benignant of cholesterol, HDL, is often considered the 'good type' arsenic it helps wide LDL distant from the arteries and retired of the body.

A level of HDL below 4mmol/L (millimoles per litre) is considered healthy.

The caller survey analysed the wellness records of 570,000 South Koreans, and recovered those who had levels of LDL cholesterin beneath 1.8 mmol/L were 28 per cent little apt to make Alzheimer's disease, compared to those with doubly arsenic overmuch LDL.

Those successful the debased cholesterin radical who took statins were adjacent little apt to make the disorder, reducing their hazard by a further 12 per cent.

The authors said their findings 'underscore the important relation of managing LDL successful lowering dementia risk', adding that statins could beryllium utilized to amended cognitive function. 

The medicine lowers cholesterin by interfering with an enzyme successful the liver that's important for making the fatty substance.

Some experts, however, person urged caution implicit the findings.

Dr Julia Dudley, Head of Research astatine Alzheimer's Research UK said: 'Dementia hazard is analyzable and influenced by galore factors.

'Without a elaborate representation of what's going connected successful the brain, we bash not cognize if determination is simply a nonstop nexus betwixt little cholesterin and reduced dementia risk. 

'Clinical trials volition beryllium cardinal to recognize what effects statins mightiness beryllium having connected illness processes successful the brain.

'In the meantime, keeping our hearts steadfast remains 1 of the astir effectual ways we tin support our encephalon health. 

'If you person immoderate concerns astir your cholesterin levels, you should talk to your GP.'

It is good known that precocious cholesterin is simply a hazard origin for vascular dementia — a benignant of the illness caused by respective mini strokes.

There are presently astir 982,000 radical with dementia successful the UK. 

This fig is expected to emergence to 1.4 cardinal by 2040.

Alzheimer's affects astir six successful 10 radical with dementia.

Memory problems, reasoning and reasoning difficulties and connection problems are communal aboriginal symptoms of the condition, which past worsen implicit time.

Previous studies person estimated that astir 40 per cent of each dementia cases could beryllium prevented with manner changes.

This includes healthier diets, accrued exercise, drinking little alcohol, preventing caput wounded and utilizing proceeding aids.