SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
(Speakin’ Out News ILlustration)
A major long-term study suggests that beginning cholesterol-lowering statin treatment earlier after a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis may help reduce a person’s risk of developing dementia later in life.
Researchers followed 132,585 people with Type 2 diabetes in Denmark for up to 15 years. Compared with participants who did not begin statin treatment, those who started the medication earlier had a 15% lower relative risk of developing dementia over 10 years. Participants who began statins later experienced a 10% lower relative risk.
The findings were presented Aug. 30 at the European Society of Cardiology Congress and published in The Lancet Regional Health–Europe.
Statins are widely prescribed medications that lower LDL cholesterol, often called “bad” cholesterol. Elevated LDL can contribute to plaque buildup and narrowing of the arteries, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Researchers believe protecting blood vessels may also help preserve blood flow to the brain and reduce damage associated with vascular dementia.
The findings could carry particular significance for Black Americans. Older Black adults are approximately twice as likely as older White adults to have Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Higher rates of diabetes, hypertension, stroke and cardiovascular disease may contribute to that disparity.
Among Black Americans age 70 and older, approximately 21.3% are living with Alzheimer’s disease. Black patients also may encounter delayed diagnoses, limited access to specialists and difficulty obtaining culturally responsive dementia care.
Researchers cautioned that the study was observational. It found an association between earlier statin treatment and reduced dementia risk but did not prove that statins directly prevented the disease. The research also involved only people with Type 2 diabetes, meaning its findings should not automatically be applied to everyone.
“This study suggests that starting statins soon after a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis may also be linked to a modest reduction in dementia risk, with greater benefit than delaying treatment,” said Professor Isabel Goncalves of the European Society of Cardiology.
Health professionals warn that patients should not begin, stop or change cholesterol medication without consulting their physician. Statins can produce side effects in some patients, and treatment decisions should consider cholesterol levels, diabetes, age, family history and overall cardiovascular risk.
The research adds to growing evidence that protecting the heart and blood vessels may also protect the brain. Regular cholesterol, blood-pressure and diabetes screenings—along with physical activity, nutritious food, adequate sleep and prescribed medications—may help address several dementia risk factors simultaneously.
For Black families disproportionately affected by both diabetes and dementia, the study reinforces an important message: caring for cardiovascular health earlier in life could produce benefits that reach far beyond the heart.