A 15‑year observational study of more than 132,000 Danish adults with type 2 diabetes suggests that taking statins early can lower the relative risk of developing dementia by up to 15%, while later initiation is linked to a 10% reduction. The findings were presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress in Munich and published in Lancet Regional Health – Europe.
Study design and key outcomes
Researchers followed 132,585 participants between 2006 and 2021, tracking statin initiation and subsequent diagnoses of dementia. Over the follow‑up period, 2.7% of the cohort developed dementia. Compared with individuals who never started a statin, those who began treatment early in the study period experienced a 15% lower relative risk of dementia over ten years. Participants who started statins later showed a 10% lower relative risk over the same timeframe. The risk reductions were consistent across both men and women.
Expert commentary
Prof. Isabel Goncalves, a member of the ESC communication committee who was not involved in the research, emphasized the public‑health relevance, noting that “because statins are widely available and inexpensive, the findings are potentially important.” Dr. Tummas Ternhamar of Copenhagen University Hospital, who presented the data, linked the results to broader strategies for dementia prevention, stating that “dementia risk is best addressed by targeting several factors at once, and that cholesterol may belong on that list.” He added that timing matters, with early intervention appearing more beneficial.
Dr. Honorine Lebraud, senior partnerships manager at Alzheimer’s Research UK, called the study an “observational study adds to growing evidence linking cardiovascular health and brain health,” while urging further research to confirm a direct causal link. Prof. Bryan Williams, chief scientific and medical officer of the British Heart Foundation, cautioned that observational data cannot prove causation but noted that “there is evidence from trials that do show that statins reduce the risk of dementia so the findings in this study are certainly plausible.”
Possible mechanisms
Statins lower low‑density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, reducing plaque buildup in arteries and the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular events. High LDL cholesterol is thought to contribute to dementia by narrowing or hardening cerebral blood vessels, impairing blood flow, and promoting atherosclerotic changes in the brain. Dr. Ternhamar suggested that the protective effect of statins on dementia may stem from their ability to prevent cerebrovascular atherosclerosis, ischemic stroke, and consequent brain tissue damage.
The study aligns with previous recommendations from the Lancet Dementia Commission, which identified 14 modifiable risk factors—including mid‑life LDL cholesterol—that could prevent or delay up to 45% of dementia cases if addressed throughout life. While the Danish cohort consisted solely of individuals with type 2 diabetes, the researchers believe the findings support the broader notion that statins could become part of a multi‑component preventive package that also includes physical activity and a healthy diet.
Given the projected global rise in dementia cases—expected to reach 153 million by 2050—the potential for a widely used, low‑cost medication to contribute to risk reduction is attracting attention from both cardiovascular and neurological specialists. Further randomized trials will be needed to establish causality and to determine optimal timing and patient selection for statin therapy aimed at brain health.
Mitchell Landsberg is the senior reporter for News Raise and focuses on Technology. Mitchell regularly writes about social media platforms and how influencers, industry and general people use them to communicate and make money.
