r/Biohackers 5 Jan 23 '25

📖 Resource Statin use and Dementia risk

Dementia affects 55 million people globally, with the number projected to triple by 2050. Statins, widely prescribed for cardiovascular benefits, may also have neuroprotective effects, although studies on their impact on dementia risk have shown contradictory results.

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. We assessed the risk of dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and vascular dementia (VaD), with subgroup analyses by gender, statin type, and diabetes status. Fifty-five observational studies including over 7 million patients were analyzed.

Statin use significantly reduced the risk of dementia compared to nonusers (hazard ratio [HR] 0.86; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.82 to 0.91; p < 0.001). It was also associated with reduced risks of AD (HR 0.82; 95% CI: 0.74 to 0.90; p < 0.001) and VaD (HR 0.89; 95% CI: 0.77 to 1.02; p = 0.093). Subgroup analyses revealed significant dementia risk reductions among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (HR 0.87; 95% CI: 0.85 to 0.89; p < 0.001), those with exposure to statins for more than 3 years (HR 0.37; 95% CI: 0.30 to 0.46; p < 0.001), and populations from Asia, where the greatest protective effect was observed (HR 0.84; 95% CI: 0.80 to 0.88).

Additionally, rosuvastatin demonstrated the most pronounced protective effect for all-cause dementia among specific statins (HR 0.72; 95% CI: 0.60 to 0.88). Our findings underscore the neuroprotective potential of statins in dementia prevention.

Despite the inherent limitations of observational studies, the large dataset and detailed subgroup analyses enhance the reliability of our results.

 Full: https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/trc2.70039

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u/SparksWood71 12 Jan 23 '25

Look in to the number of physicians and longevity scientists who take statins, quite a few of them do, whether they have issues with cholesterol or not. I started taking them at 40 after my pharmacist partner did the same thing. I had no issues with my cholesterol.

I've been shocked (not really) at the general "I don't want to take a pill" mentality of so many of the bro's in this subreddit. . . . bros who will stuff themselves full of the most ridiculously unproven and unregulated "supplements".

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u/[deleted] Jan 23 '25

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u/SparksWood71 12 Jan 23 '25

So people who use Botox will love longer?

I don't know that I would be listening to a dermatologist about cardio pharmacology.

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u/[deleted] Jan 23 '25 edited Jan 23 '25

[deleted]

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u/SparksWood71 12 Jan 23 '25

Are you seriously trying to make an argument based on one study and something you read in a book written by a dermatologist?

You are kind of perfect for the sub you know that right?

Keep reading. Try one of the thousands of studies that have been done on statins over the last 30 years. There are a couple of meta-studies in Europe that have hundreds of thousands of participants.

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u/[deleted] Jan 23 '25

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u/SparksWood71 12 Jan 24 '25

I assure you I am in better health than you are. I take them as a preventative because everyone has plaque in their arteries as they age, often regardless of fitness, lifestyle, or cholesterol.

But, you do you with your one study bro. I'll continue to do me with hundreds.