Contrary to earlier news, statins are not tied to mental decline

                                    


                            

Review Finds Statins Not Tied to Mental Decline

Huffington Post - Statins, drugs that prevent heart attack may not be linked to mental decline

On the basis of anecdotes, the FDA issued warning that statins cause decline in mental faculties.  However recent reviews do not seem to support the FDA announcement.  Here are the results of the review posted at NewsMax Health last November 19

Cholesterol-lowering statin drugs do not appear to raise the risk of memory loss or dementia, a new review finds.

"In February 2012, largely based on anecdotal reports, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a safety statement warning patients of possible adverse mental effects associated with statin use," said senior study author Dr. Emil deGoma, medical director of the preventive cardiovascular program at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine.

Here is the excerpt of the post:

Cholesterol-lowering statin drugs do not appear to raise the risk of memory loss or dementia, a new review finds.

"In February 2012, largely based on anecdotal reports, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a safety statement warning patients of possible adverse mental effects associated with statin use," said senior study author Dr. Emil deGoma, medical director of the preventive cardiovascular program at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine.

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In addition, deGoma said, doctors should not assume statins are to blame when someone taking them becomes forgetful. "We may be doing more harm than good if we withhold or stop statins -- medications proven to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke -- due to fears that statins might possibly cause memory loss," he said.

The report was published in the Nov. 19 issue of the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.

Dr. Gregg Fonarow, a spokesman for the American Heart Association, said statins are important in reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes, and have been proven safe and effective numerous times.

This should be reassuring to many Americans who are taking statins.  However the FDA sees no reason to withdraw the warning according to FDA spokeswoman Morgan Liscinsky.

There are drugs that can lessen cholesterol:

1.  Asi Tava, 

2.  Brown rice

3.  Okra

4.  Turmeric

and exercise

From Daily Mail -statins may prevent Alzheimer if given at ealrier stages