Home Health Care NH Discusses Statins and Alzheimer’s

If you look into news related to Alzheimer’s, you may have heard about the effects of anti-cholesterol drugs called statins. News about statins & Alzheimer’s disease has been buzzing around the world for over 10 years now. Unfortunately, this information is still a little hazy. Not all statins seem to give the same benefits, and we still don’t quite know how statins help adults with Alzheimer’s. Today we are going to discuss whether taking statins is a good idea if you or a loved one is concerned about Alzheimer’s disease.

 Before we go any further, you should know that the members of our home health care NH team are not doctors. We can give you the research on statins, but you should always consult with a medical professional before taking any kind of medication, statins included.

The Alzheimer’s Association published a fact sheet on statins & Alzheimer’s disease back in 2005, which said:

"Some, but not all, epidemiological studies have found a link between taking statins to reduce cholesterol levels and a decreased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease later in life."

"The Alzheimer’s Association and most scientific experts believe that no one should take statins specifically to lower their risk of Alzheimer’s until further research clarifies the possible relationship between statins and dementia."

Relatively speaking, home health care NH isn’t much closer to a clear understanding of statins today than we were ten years ago. On the bright side, research has continued to show that statins can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, including a recent 2016 study that confirmed the effects of statins across multiple demographics (e.g. race, gender). However, other studies have shown that not all statins have this effect. The haziness around this is mostly because statins are commonly prescribed as a method of treating high cholesterol, so the difference between statins & no statins is also the different between good & bad healthcare. As Dr. Mary Sano from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine wrote:

"I suspect that if you are not treating those conditions, you are medically underserved, and being medically underserved is a source of bad medical outcomes across the board, dementia among them. In essence, we are not talking about a drug effect of statins on dementia as much as about an effect of inadequate care on multiple bad outcomes."

In addition, statins are not associated with recovery. Currently there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Statins are almost exclusively correlated with prevention.

What does that mean for you and your loved one? Well, there might be a lot of buzz about statins, but that doesn’t make them the best way to treat or prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

Our home health care NH team does not recommend taking statins to reduce the risk or progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Some common tips include regular exercise, training the mind, and a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods such as fruits and leafy green vegetables. Talk to your doctor to learn more about Alzheimer’s disease and the best ways to handle it.

Visiting Angels of Auburn, NH provides in home care services to families in Auburn, Candia, Derry, Goffstown, Dunbarton, Londonderry, Raymond, Salem, Manchester, Hooksett, Bedford, Suncook, Weare, Concord, Bow, Atkinson, Deerfield, Sandown, Hampstead, Chester, Fremont, Allenstown, Pembroke, Hopkinton, Danville, and other areas around Auburn, New Hampshire.