Another myth about cholesterol-lowering statin drugs

Myth Buster

Another one bites the dust.

Another myth about cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, that is.

You’ve got to hand it to executives of drug companies that manufacture statins: They gave it the old college try. For years they’ve been touting statins as cholesterol cutters that may also have the potential to prevent cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, loss of bone mass and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). I’ve been waiting for them to claim that statins can also be used as a floor wax AND a dessert topping.

So far the evidence behind these supposed extra benefits is scant at best. And now a new study shows that it may be time to go ahead and check Alzheimer’s off that list.

Not doing the trick

The new study – published in the July issue of the Archives of Neurology – opens with a dutiful nod to statins’ ability to “reduce cardiovascular risk.” The University of Washington (UW) researchers could have also noted that statins may actually jeopardize cardio health by depleting the heart-friendly coenzyme Q-10, but that’s a story for another day.

Previous research shows that elevated LDL cholesterol may be associated with higher dementia and Alzheimer’s risk. So the UW team evaluated data on statin use and dementia collected from the Cardiovascular Health Study Results. The data included information on nearly 2,800 subjects over the age of 65. The average age was 75 and the average length of statin use was five years.

At the outset, all subjects were evaluated with MRI and other tests, and none were diagnosed with dementia or AD. By the end of the study, 480 subjects were found to have dementia, and 245 of those cases were Alzheimer’s disease.

In their conclusions the researchers note that statin use was “not associated with a decreased risk of dementia” even after dementia risk factors such as diabetes, smoking, hypertension and elevated LDL cholesterol levels were taken into consideration.

Which way is up?

The Washington study may be a setback for statin manufacturers, but they might have seen it coming.

In the e-Alert “Going Under” (6/9/05), I told you about a study that linked high cholesterol in elderly subjects with a lowered risk of dementia. That’s right: LOWERED risk.

A team of U.S. and Swedish researchers analyzed medical data collected on more than 380 elderly residents of Goteborg, Sweden. For nearly two decades, subjects underwent physicals, blood tests, chest x-rays, EKGs, CT scans and neuropsychiatric examinations.

Researchers found that elevated levels of total cholesterol recorded while subjects were in their early 70s were linked with reduced dementia risk in their later 70s. Furthermore, elevated total cholesterol throughout their 70s was associated with reduced dementia risk throughout their 80s.

In an interview with HealthDay News, one member of the U.S. team, Johns Hopkins researcher Michelle M. Mielke, noted that we can no longer rely on oversimplified answers, “for example, that high cholesterol is always bad and low cholesterol is always good.”

I’ll bet the pro-statin camp never expected to hear a statement like that from a major research institution.

The B team

Unfortunately, these studies create more questions than answers. But there is a preventive measure against Alzheimer’s that’s a no-brainer.

In the e-Alert “One Thing You Can do to Protect Yourself from Alzheimer’s Starting Today” (2/19/02), I told you about the homocysteine/AD connection. Homocysteine is an amino acid that, like cholesterol, can be measured with a simple blood test. In 2002, a large study from the Boston University School of Medicine revealed that a high homocysteine level can actually double your chances of developing Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia.

The good news here is that supplements of vitamins B-6, B-12 and folic acid have been shown to be effective in helping reduce homocysteine levels. Unlike statins, however, there are no dire side effects associated with these nutrients.

Sources:
“Statin use and the Risk of Incident Dementia” Archives of Neurology, Vol. 62, No. 7, July 2005, archneur.ama-assn.org
“Statins for Dementia? Big Trial Finds No Benefit” Neil Osterweil, MedPage Today, 7/11/05, medpagetoday.com
“Could High Cholesterol Ward Off Dementia?” HealthDay News, 5/24/05, rednova.com