August 18, 2008
Cholesterol Drugs May Protect Memory
Drugs commonly used to fight cholesterol may also ward off dementia and memory loss.
A new study shows those who take statins are half as likely to develop dementia as those who don't take them. For five years, researchers at the University of Michigan School of Public Health in Ann Arbor, followed 1,674 dementia-free Mexican Americans over age 60. Of the group, 27 percent took a statin drug and 130 people developed dementia or cognitive impairment.
"We aren't suggesting that people should take statins unless they are necessary for other reasons," Mary N. Haan, Dr.P.H., study author of the University of Michigan School of Public Health, was quoted as saying. "We hope this study and others like it will open the door to trials that would test the ability of statins to prevent dementia and other types of cognitive impairment."
The statins the participants took included atorvastatin, cerivastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, rosuvavstatin and simvastatin. Headaches, nausea, fever and muscle pain are the most common side effects of the drugs.
Source: Neurology, 2008;71:344-350 (Ivanhoe Newswire)
Source: http://www.ivanhoe.com/
Comments:
This is one more aspect in the ongoing statin controversy. Over the years, statins have been proven to cause memory loss rather than protecting it. As studies show, low levels of cholesterol in the nerve membrane reduce the cognitive function. Contrary to common belief cholesterol and other fat molecules are essential for the integrity and the proper function of cell membranes, while the lipid soluble statins have an increased tendency to cross the blood brain barrier and impair brain functions. According to some reports, Simvastatin (brand name-Zocor) is the most lipid soluble drug in its class, and the labels of Lipitor and Pravachol list memory loss as an adverse side effect of these drugs. However, despite all the data researchers still want to prove that statins might be helpful in preventing memory loss. Cholesterol is not a villain and is critical for many metabolic processes in the body.
According to Dr. Rath's research, cholesterol is not the main cause of cardiovascular diseases but rather a symptom of already existing heart disease. Dr. Rath proved that supplementation with specific cellular nutrient combinations can repair the artery damage and address cholesterol levels. The details of Dr. Rath's revolutionary research findings can be found in his book "Why Animals Don't Get Heart Attacks, but People Do!" and Dr. Rath's novel Nutrient Synergy concept that has been successfully tested in several clinical trials is presented on: www.drrathresearch.org
|
|
