One day in 1999 Duane Graveline, then a 68-year-old former NASA astronaut, returned home from his morning walk in Merritt Island, Fla., and could not remember where he was. His wife stepped outside, and he greeted her as a stranger. When Graveline’s memory returned some six hours later in the hospital, he racked his brain to figure out what might have caused this terrifying bout of amnesia. Only one thing came to mind: he had recently started taking the statin drug Lipitor.

Cholesterol-lowering statins such as Lipitor, Crestor and Zocor are the most widely prescribed medications in the world, and they are credited with saving the lives of many heart disease patients. But recently a small number of users have voiced concerns that the drugs elicit unexpected cognitive side effects, such as memory loss, fuzzy thinking and learning difficulties. Hundreds of people have registered complaints with MedWatch, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s adverse drug reaction database, but few studies have been done and the results are inconclusive. Nevertheless, many experts are starting to believe that a small percentage of the population is at risk, and they are calling for increased public awareness of the possible cognitive side effects of statins—symptoms that may be misdiagnosed as dementia in the aging patients who take them.

Fat and the Brain
It is not crazy to connect cholesterol-modifying drugs with cognition; after all, one quarter of the body’s cholesterol is found in the brain. Cholesterol is a waxy substance that, among other things, provides structure to the body’s cell membranes. High levels of cholesterol in the blood create a risk for heart disease, because the molecules that transport cholesterol can damage arteries and cause blockages. In the brain, however, cholesterol plays a crucial role in the formation of neuronal connections—the vital links that underlie memory and learning. Quick thinking and rapid reaction times depend on cholesterol, too, because the waxy molecules are the building blocks of the sheaths that insulate neurons and speed up electrical transmissions. “We can’t understand how a drug that affects such an important pathway would not have adverse reactions,” says Ralph Edwards, former director of the World Health Organization’s drug-monitoring center in Uppsala, Sweden.

Two small trials published in 2000 and 2004 by Matthew Muldoon, a clinical pharmacologist at the University of Pittsburgh, seem to suggest a link between statins and cognitive problems. The first, which enrolled 209 high-cholesterol subjects, reported that participants taking placebo pills improved more on repeated tests of attention and reaction time taken over the course of six months—presumably getting better because of practice, as people typically do. Subjects who were on statins, however, did not show the normal improvement—suggesting their learning was impaired. The second trial reported similar findings. And a study published in 2003 in Reviews of Therapeutics noted that among 60 statin users who had reported memory problems to MedWatch, more than half said their symptoms improved when they stopped taking the drugs.

But other studies have found no significant link between statins and memory problems. Larry Sparks, director of the Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research at the Sun Health Research Institute in Sun City, Ariz., goes so far as to say that “you’ve got a better chance of buying a winning lottery ticket, walking outside and getting hit by lightning and dying” than you do of suffering a cognitive side effect from statins.

Vulnerable Genes?
Many experts agree that for most people the risk is quite low, but they are beginning to believe the effects are real. “A subset of the population is vulnerable,” argues Joe Graedon, co-founder of the consumer advocacy Web site the People’s Pharmacy, which has collected hundreds of reports of cognitive-related statin side effects in the past decade. Some researchers believe these people have a genetic profile that puts them at risk.

21 Comments

1. 1. jtdwyer 09:56 PM 9/7/10

   Conversely, when I began taking, initially 2 gram daily dosages, of Lovaza (Omega-3 acid ethyl esters) prescribed by my cardiologist to control triglycerides, within a week or two I noticed significant improvements in my ability to think quickly. It seemed as though my ability to think had been dramatically restored to past levels.
   
   Shortly thereafter I happened to see some TV program describing some study of children whose performance in some intelligence tests significantly improved when taking Omega-3 dietary supplements. They indicated that Omega-3 my benefit the fatty sheaths that insulate neurons and speed up their electrical signals.
   
   In my case, I suspect that several years of illness, including about a year of chemo producing serious anemia, aggravated by heart failure, may have contributed to damage to those sheaths, reducing my intellectual abilities. In my case the Lovaza seemed to restore previous abilities that had been diminished. Those who have not suffered diminishment may not experience any benefit.
   
   As I understand, prescription Lovaza contains specific quantities of two ethyl esters, while unregulated Omega-3 dietary supplements contain varying amounts of varying ethyl esters. As a result, I am not suggesting that over the counter Omega-3 products can produce the benefits I experienced.
   
   Very high dosages of Lovaza, 4 grams daily, are necessary to control triglycerides. Unfortunately, fish oil products are very difficult to digest, often producing a great deal of gas. In my case I stabilized my Lovaza dosage at 2 grams daily and added another medication, Trilipix (Fenofibric acid) to successfully reduce triglycerides.
   
   In my case, I am using two non-statin medications to stabilize cholesterol levels, not only avoiding any noticeable effect of dementia but ostensibly improving intellectual abilities.

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2. 2. gigovet@inwind.it 12:08 PM 9/11/10

   it's neede more attention to prescribe some drugs to lowe cholesterol's level in some coort of patients
   giorgio govetto neurologist

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3. 3. gigovet@inwind.it 12:14 PM 9/11/10

   It's probable we must have more attention in prescribing statine and perhapse the goal is not to reach lower level of cholesterol almost in some coort of patients
   giorgio govetto

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4. 4. jbairddo 10:20 AM 10/19/10

   Wow, statins are credited with saving many lives, any citations stating where this came from? Even Lipitor which has an indication for lowering heart attacks doesn't claim to save lives.

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5. 5. Spin-oza 11:15 AM 10/19/10

   WHOA... what are you geek-people thinking? This article addresses our minds... our very core being... our "souls", as if there is some physically "determined" basis for our behaviors and thoughts. How radical... how subversive to our precious religious doctrine! Shame on you. We all know "ensoulment" occured at the very instant of conception and is sacrosanct. Whatever changes occur in cognition over time are surely divinely ordained. The "brain" as you folks call it, is just the circuitry that the ALLmighty uses to acheive HIS purpose!!!
   
   Ah... but I jest. Due to the obesity epidemic, sedentary lifestyles... high fat diets... and people with genetic cardiovascular tendencies to continue reproducing like flies (diabetics, etc.), there is a huge demand upon "medicine" to provide the means to lower serum lipids. Statins have actually been on-balance a great success story... but every remedy has a downside. Nothing trumps good genetics, and an active, healthy lifestyle of prevention. Perhaps, in the future, gene-therapies will be available... but until then, it's off the sofa bloated americans. Also, doing tasks that challenge us mentally, keeps the mind "finely tuned"... so learn something NEW!

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6. 6. RobLL 02:07 PM 10/19/10

   This may not be the only unstudied serious side effect of statin drugs. Shortly after having my dosage doubled, I experienced hand neuropathy and a sort of chronic fatigue syndrome. While doctors would not speculate on the cause I took myself off of statins. I am very active physically, and as well documtented my recover over the next two years.

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7. 7. Iahmad 02:18 AM 10/20/10

   Cholesterol (lipid in general) control is a double edged sword. High cholesterol and triglyceride level are risk factors for metabolic syndrome which in turn is a risk factor for dementia. Thus their control may improve the memory specially when glycemia is controlled. However, cholesterol is important building block of neuronal cells. Their aggressive control is bound to have adverse effect. The balance of cholesterol should be maitained for a optimum cognition related activity. Cholesterol is not a complete bad guy which should be removed from body. It does important job and need to be regulated.

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8. 8. jgrosay 02:54 AM 10/20/10

   I met a woman that said that her singing abilities in the Church improved greatly after starting taking Gemfibrozil for raised triglyceride blood levels

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9. 9. shinejesse 08:46 AM 10/20/10

   That is meaningful findings. If there is sure interaction between memory loss and medicine,the medicine will be more specific.BuT the case is should not totally make connection between memory recall and drug to take. when people often take medicine,this behavior itself could enhance the memory, and after a short memory loss, what could be recall may be the enhanced section that is to take medicine.As plenty of peaple have known that as long as you call it a medicine, at least one in three of which will be harmful to your body.From this part, it could be easily to have faith in this article.But anyway, we anticipate more attractive reports.

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10. 10. jepho 11:19 AM 10/20/10

    Empirically speaking, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) are creating a problem for many of the people taking them. In a recent informal internet-based collection of self-reported data, from the users of statins or their carers, the incidence of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis aka motor neurone disease (Lou Gehrig's disease) and other significant major neurological disturbances was remarkable.
    
    The incidence of ALS is put at 1:200,000 people in the USA. and in 351 reports there were 19 reports of ALS/MND. On the current incidence statistics, I should have seen more than 3.6 million reports before seeing 19 cases of ALS.
    
    Interested parties can read the informal report (published by the journal of independent medical research) and see precisely what information which was self-reported; at the following URL:
    
    http://www.joimr.org/JOIMR_Vol7_No1_Dec2009.pdf
    
    
    There were a further 8 cases of Parkinson's disease and single occurrences of CIDP, Alzheimer's disease and Progressive supra-nuclear palsy. In all, there were 29 reports of major progressive neurological dysfunction.
    

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11. 11. heart44 02:58 PM 10/20/10

    My husband took Zocor (3 yrs), then Lipitor (5 yrs). He experienced numerous side effects, only to be told by his Dr's, "More benefit from statins than any discomfort he was experiencing". The final wake-up call was when he experienced TGA (transient global amnesia). Today, after stopping statins over 7 years ago, he requires 24/7 care due to persistent cognitive decline & Parkinson's type symptoms (hand tremor). He also experienced a grand mal seizure August 2009. Over the course of the past couple of years we've also discovered a long list of nutritional deficiencies, low levels of neuro-transmitters and heavy metal toxicity.
    There's no doubt in my mind that statins were the "trigger" for this long list of conditions, as he was always active both mentally and physically.
    There were "signs" while he was taking statins that changes were occurring, but the link to statins only after I came across the works of Dr Duane Graveline. Trying to find a doctor to help guide us through recovery was non-existent. Very frustrating and heart-breaking to see my best friend of 40+ years fade away...

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12. 12. jtdwyer in reply to heart44 03:27 AM 10/21/10

    I'm so sorry for your husband's terrible difficulties. I'm just some guy off the street, but I have had some somewhat related experiences (please see comment #1). I can only suggest that you discuss prescription Lovaza treatment with your husband's doctors. In my unqualified opinion it might help, perhaps by facilitating repair of damage to neurons' myelin sheaths and encourage neuron growth. I think the only likely side effect would be intestinal gas.
    
    Please see:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovaza
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omega-3_fatty_acid
    (especially the 'Brain' section)
    
    Best wishes.

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13. 13. sunnystrobe 02:24 PM 10/21/10

    To combat high cholesterol & tri-glyceride levels without life-threatening drug-induced side effects, please, consider changing eating habits before anything else:
    In the fifties, German doctor Max Otto Bruker began to treat his heart patients by telling them to skip eating meat, dairy & eggs as the culprits that can cause a system overload of 'bad',heat-damaged, and therefore, oxidised, i,e, 'rancid', versions of surplus, 'foreign body' cholesterol. Instead of drugs, he simply prescribed raw salads to be taken before cooked meals!
    He literally prolonged my Aunt's life by 40 years - just by advising her to grate an apple and a carrot for her lunch! Modern research has shown since that by eating five-plus portions of fruits and vegetables can make cholesterol levels plunge in the course of three weeks - so why not try a plant-based diet, more conducive to us human primates, and live happily ever after? For more evidence on the efficacy of this approach, please visit my interactive website youthevity.com

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14. 14. mcmanster 10:11 PM 10/21/10

    Those corporate liars know that this is actually a real threat to aging people taking statins.

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15. 15. jezuzhc 12:24 AM 10/28/10

    have been looking for relationship between heart meds concerning cognitive problems...been blaming zolpedium and alprazolam for my problems till my wife went on much the same heart meds plus rosuvastatin same as me...i watched her cognitive skills go right into the abyss...is such an embarrasment not to be able to remember anything around people that i dont leave the house anymore for months on end....will be changing to fish oil after i research it more.......thank you scientific american......regards richard.

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16. 16. hunjach 03:26 PM 3/31/12

    I have IBM,i.e., Inclusion Body myositis an auto immune muscle problem now. I have a history of statin joint pain and muscle weekness for say up to 12 years, on many differant statin drugs!I am of northen euro desent possible predisposing me to auto immune problems! ( human leukocyte antigin HLA linked to sIBM and fIBM predisposed autoimmune disorders! sIBM assoc. HLA-DR3 genes in 70% of patients.) Also I suspect SL01B1 gene in family history predisposing to higher absorption of statins and higher risk of myopathy! Other family members had or having trouble with myopathy and stains amd muscle loss!
    Statin toxidity is less with hydrophilic stains but firstly I was on lipophilic statins and in combination with proton pump inhibitors I was on can cause greater muscle probems with more certenty! So what?
    If in high risk groups, genetic studys may indicate plausibility of quality of life issues! Some studys indicate statins may still be needed and treat muscle problems with styroids as in John hopkins neuro findings!

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17. 17. okie1685 05:24 PM 4/7/12

    i was taking a statins and i have tried none statin drug for my Cholesterol the same resuls the first thing that happened i started to get a weakness in my legs.
    
    then my wife starts noticing my memory lose.
    
    i am retired and i'm going on 70 years old forgetting where your car keys are or forgetting to lock the door seemed to be in the normal range of things.
    
    so she didn't get to alarmed at the time.
    
    and it wasn't to noticeable to me personally .
    
    but i decided to get back into playing singing and writing music now that i was retired from trucking.
    
    that's when it all came into focus for me.
    
    a normal person following a simple not to technical of a life probably
    
    wouldn't notice.
    
    a small gyp in there memory such as losing your chain of thought in a conversation almost like a st-udder in speech.
    
    but when you are singing or playing a song that you know like the back of your hand and you come to that blank spot it shows up pretty fast.
    
    i have been dealing with this now about a year.
    
    and i think i have got it figured out at least in my case.
    
    at 140 in my total count of HDL and LDL i dont seem to have any memory or muscles problems.
    
    but anything below that seems to start bring with it a muscle and lose of memory problems.
    
    defiantly below 100 .
    
    at below 100 just a simple Numbers test of counting with me counting from one to 1000. from one to 100. was a blank of 2 from 100 to 500 was a blank of 3
    
    from 500 to 1000 was a blank of 3.
    
    by that i mean 12345678910 blank 12131415161718192021222324 blank 26 and so on.
    
    but repeating the count the specific numbers missed would change and the number of blanks also but they were there.
    
    like iv'e said in a simple walk or cutting your grass or a slow conversation you might not notice your memory problems.
    
    but put into a fast moving situation there will be a problem.
    
    i don't believe its the drugs at all its the lowering of the Cholesterol in general just my experience.
    
    I'M JUST SAYING
    
    
    

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18. 18. jtdwyer in reply to okie1685 05:37 PM 4/7/12

    I have no qualifications but some somewhat related experience (although not to the extent you have). Please see my comments #1 & #20. I can only suggest that you discuss prescription Lovaza treatment with your doctors. In my unqualified opinion it might help, perhaps by facilitating repair of damage to neurons' myelin sheaths and encourage neuron growth. I think the only likely side effect would be intestinal gas. BTW, I'm not a Lovaza representative and receive no compensation...

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19. 19. SimvastatinMan 08:10 AM 4/24/12

    FWIW
    My experience is relatively mild, memory loss and fatigue are definite but not major. My worry is - is it progressive/accumulative?
    And a friend had a heart attack, was put on statins and took himself off when his blood sugar rocketed, fearing (knowledgeably) diabetes. He smokes and is definitely over-weight. This was the first I heard of any connection with blood sugar/diabetes and statins.
    Any comments?

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20. 20. mchilcote in reply to Iahmad 01:08 AM 6/9/12

    Okay, from my viewpoint the brain is consisting of all this lovely fat tissue that transmits electrical impulses in a very straitforward manner, but if the fat ie cholesterol is removed by drugs the areas that are affected by such slow down and poof disappear leaving those who have chosen to ride the advice of their misinformed physysicians to volunatarily conduct the destruction of their brains. Low fat no fat. blah blah blah!!!! the brain requires fat to exsist ...not body fat: dietary intake of fat. getting off a couch is good for fat bodied persons, but the brain itself is composed of fat for electrical reasons so eating fat is good . BEIng fat isn't.
    We have an epidemic of misprescribed unresearched drugs keeping the hospitals in a very lucrarive bussiness which can't change because of the giant sized all level employment possibilties created in communtities where no other industry exists. Careful now : medicine + economics and politics......... so is anyone caring that someone's family member might be dying from this? NO because the nursing homes in turn make lots of money and employ lots of people because the statins are wiping out otherwise healthy intelligent people's brain fat and there's another reource for jobs and local economic growth. Me? well, you 'll NEVER find me at the drug store filling a misguided prescription in a politically guided forest of brain killing legal drugs. It's all a scam.

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21. 21. mchilcote in reply to Iahmad 01:09 AM 6/9/12

    Okay, from my viewpoint the brain is consisting of all this lovely fat tissue that transmits electrical impulses in a very straitforward manner, but if the fat ie cholesterol is removed by drugs the areas that are affected by such slow down and poof disappear leaving those who have chosen to ride the advice of their misinformed physysicians to volunatarily conduct the destruction of their brains. Low fat no fat. blah blah blah!!!! the brain requires fat to exsist ...not body fat: dietary intake of fat. getting off a couch is good for fat bodied persons, but the brain itself is composed of fat for electrical reasons so eating fat is good . BEIng fat isn't.
    We have an epidemic of misprescribed unresearched drugs keeping the hospitals in a very lucrarive bussiness which can't change because of the giant sized all level employment possibilties created in communtities where no other industry exists. Careful now : medicine + economics and politics......... so is anyone caring that someone's family member might be dying from this? NO because the nursing homes in turn make lots of money and employ lots of people because the statins are wiping out otherwise healthy intelligent people's brain fat and there's another reource for jobs and local economic growth. Me? well, you 'll NEVER find me at the drug store filling a misguided prescription in a politically guided forest of brain killing legal drugs. It's all a scam.

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