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Starting statin therapy shortly after a type 2 diabetes diagnosis may not only protect the heart — it may also be linked to a lower dementia risk.
A large study presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Munich on Aug. 30 found that adults who began taking a statin within one year of their type 2 diabetes diagnosis had a 15% lower relative risk of developing dementia over 10 years compared to those who did not take the medication within five years.
Even for those who delayed starting a statin for one to five years, there was still a 10% lower relative risk, according to the findings, which were published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe.
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A statin is a prescription medication that lowers “bad” LDL cholesterol and helps reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Researchers conducted the study by tracking health data from 132,585 patients in Denmark who were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes between 2006 and 2019 and had no prior history of statin use or dementia.
During a median follow-up of 7.1 years, the team analyzed how the timing of statin treatment impacted overall dementia rates.
Dr. Liron Sinvani, a geriatrician and director for research and innovation at the Northwell Institute for Healthy Aging in New York, said this was a “well-designed, large-scale observational study that adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that statins may help protect brain health.”
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She noted that while a 15% reduction is a modest improvement, it remains “very significant.”
People with type 2 diabetes have an increased risk of cognitive decline and heart disease, consistent with previous research.
Although guidelines generally recommend statins for many adults ages 40 to 75 with diabetes, statin treatment is not always started soon after a type 2 diabetes diagnosis.
The study also examined whether the timing of treatment was linked to dementia risk. People who started statins within a year of their diagnosis had a lower risk than those who did not begin treatment.
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“The message here is that maybe waiting is actually not the right approach,” Sinvani said, supporting earlier consideration of statin therapy in routine diabetes care.
The expert said she found the results “especially compelling” because the benefit was driven by a lower risk of vascular dementia rather than Alzheimer’s disease.
“The message here is that maybe waiting is actually not the right approach.”
“And that makes biological sense, because we know statins lower cholesterol, reduces inflammation and protects blood vessels,” she added, pointing out that these same mechanisms prevent vascular damage to the brain.
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Statin therapy should be viewed as one piece of a broader health strategy alongside exercising regularly, adhering to a healthy diet and staying socially connected, according to the expert.
Almost half of dementia cases may be preventable or delayable by addressing modifiable risk factors, according to the Lancet Commission.
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The study did have limitations. Because it was observational rather than a randomized clinical trial, the researchers could not definitively state that statins directly prevent dementia.
As Sinvani cautioned, “This is not proof that statins prevent dementia, but I think it’s an important step in this literature.”
The doctor encouraged people with type 2 diabetes who are not taking a statin to ask their doctor whether the medication is appropriate for them.”
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