Statins - can they cause dizziness and dementia?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that flows through the human circulatory system. If cholesterol levels are higher than normal, it can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Statins, which are prescribed to patients to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, or “bad” cholesterol, can help solve the problem.

Statins, confusion and dementia

Although statins have many benefits for treating brain fog, which is the first sign of dementia, they have a number of side effects, including

• muscle pain and bone aches;
• memory loss and brain fog;
• liver dysfunction;
• allergic reactions.

Therefore, many people are interested in the question of whether statins can cause dementia if taken for a long time. According to Robert Rosenson, MD, Director of the Cardiometabolic Department at New York's Mount Sinai Clinic, “fog in the head” is a general degree of confusion and disorientation.

The FDA approved the changes that were made to the statin instructions, where memory loss and confusion are recognized as a “non-serious and reversible side effect.” So do statins cause dementia or does taking them pose no threat to a person's health and mental activity?

Cholesterol is an important part of the human brain. About 25% of this substance is located there. Therefore, it may seem that statins and memory impairment may be interrelated because they affect brain activity.

At the same time, experts see no cause for concern. Special studies have been conducted to identify the side effects of the drug, which have shown that there is no direct link. Symptoms may indicate the presence of other diseases, says Dr. Rosenson.

How can statins and dementia be related to each other? People forget where they put their apartment keys. They may put them in the refrigerator, then forget about it and look for them for a long time. But more often than not, this behavior is a sign of Alzheimer's disease or dementia that develops over time, the doctor says.

Such problems with memory impairment mainly occur in middle-aged and older people, being signs of various diseases.

In this case, are statins really a drug? Or is there something else here that requires an expert assessment by a qualified neuropsychiatrist, Rosenson believes.

Some studies have also shown that statin use has reduced the risk of dementia and improved brain function. In Taiwan, researchers conducted a 12-year study involving 57,669 respondents aged 65 and older. As a result, they found that high doses of statins were highly effective in preventing dementia. So can we say for sure whether statins cause dementia? To do so, we need to conduct even more and different studies.

How to deal with fog in the head

You should not stop taking medications without consulting your doctor, who can advise you to

• stop taking statins;
• prescribe other statins;
• reduce the dose.

Dr. Rosenson says he sometimes switches patients to a non-statin drug called ezetimibe, which absorbs cholesterol in the intestines. He may also prescribe a PCSK9 inhibitor, which is a class of drugs that do not cross the blood-brain barrier. They can also destroy LDL receptors and remove bad cholesterol from the circulatory system.

The FDA has approved two types of PCSK9 inhibitors, such as:

1. Alirocumab (Praluent).
2. Evolocumab (Repatha).

The doctor says that when prescribing statins, the presence of side effects, such as fog in the head, is minimal and usually short-lived. The advantages often outweigh the disadvantages, especially for patients with high cholesterol or for people who are prone to

• acute cardiovascular disease;
• thrombosis in the lower extremities.

It is important to know that there are a small number of drugs that can simultaneously eliminate inflammation in the blood arteries and lower blood cholesterol levels, says Rosenson. Therefore, it is necessary to see the big picture and take into account all the patient's data.

Statins can be effective in managing anxiety, but if you’re looking for gentler treatment methods, consider trying breathing techniques. Learn more in our article "Eight breathing exercises to help manage anxiety".

What you need to know about taking statins

Experts give a number of recommendations that will help eliminate or alleviate the side effects of the drugs:

Grapefruit. The juice of this fruit contains a number of chemicals that can disrupt the metabolism of statins in the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, you should consult your doctor and find out how much grapefruit you can consume to avoid harming your health.

The number of other medications you take. Some drugs can cause side effects when interacting with statins. Among them:

• Amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerin) is prescribed for irregular heart rhythm.
• Gemfibrozil (Lopid), another type of drug that lowers blood cholesterol.
• Drugs for the treatment of HIV.
• A number of antibiotics and antifungal medicines, such as clarithromycin and itraconazole (Onmel, Sporanox).
• A number of immunosuppressants, such as cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune).

Exertion during sports. A common side effect of taking statins is muscle pain. Therefore, strenuous physical activity can increase the risk of muscle injury or worsen their condition. If you start a new type of exercise, you should gradually increase its intensity. For additional insights on mental health and alternative treatments, explore our main page.