Key takeaways:
Statins are commonly used medications. They’re very effective at lowering cholesterol and are considered safe.
Some research shows a link between statin use and dementia. But other studies suggest statins can actually protect against dementia.
The research on statins and dementia isn’t clear-cut. But if your cholesterol is in an unhealthy range, the significant benefits of taking a statin may outweigh the risk of its uncommon side effects.
Save on related medications
Statins are powerful medications that lower cholesterol. They’re among the most prescribed medications in the U.S. Common examples of statins include atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, and simvastatin.
Still, there have been concerns about whether these medications might have bad effects on your brain — like causing dementia.
Many people who take statins have reported changes in their memory or feeling like they have a foggy head. This has led to a lot of discussion about a possible link between statins and dementia.
Some reports have warned that statins may increase the risk of dementia. But other reports have found that statins actually protect against dementia.
So, we took a close look at the evidence to set the record straight on statins and dementia.
The link between statins and dementia
Scientists have been working hard to figure out if statins might cause dementia — or any other harm to the brain. Below are some of the largest studies and what they showed.
The largest review of all the data to date was recently published in 2025. Researchers combined data from over 55 studies, which included nearly 7 million people. They looked at whether statins increased the risk of several types of dementia. Here’s what they found:
Main finding: Statins significantly lowered the risk of dementia overall, including Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, by about 10% to 20%. Rosuvastatin was the most effective. It lowered people’s risk by about 30%.
Limitations: The studies included were observational studies. This means the results could be influenced by other factors. For example, people who take statins might also be more likely to do other health-promoting behaviors that lower their risk of dementia.
A recent expert review looking at the link between statins and dementia gathered data from 24 different studies. It included over 1 million people, ages 60 and older:
Main finding: They didn’t find a significant link between statin medications and dementia.
Limitations: The longest study followed people for 15 years. Researchers suggested that future studies should follow people for longer to learn more.
What medications are linked to dementia? Statins may not cause dementia, but some other medications might have a stronger link. You can find the list here.
Statin side effects: Most people tolerate statins without any problems. But there are a few side effects to know about before starting this medication.
Which statin is the best for you? No one knows more about these medications than us. Our guide walks you through everything you need to know.
A 2021 study looked at data of more than 18,000 adults older than 65 years who were taking statins:
Main finding: There was no significant link between statins and dementia. Statins weren’t associated with any level of cognitive impairment either.
Limitations: People in the study took different types of statin medications. Also, it was a retrospective analysis, which means the data wasn’t initially collected to study dementia. This can make the results harder to understand.
A 2019 Australian study of more than 1,000 participants measured memory and brain volumes in people older than 70 years who were taking statins:
Main finding: When comparing people taking statins with those who didn’t, there was no difference in cognition, memory loss, or brain volume. Interestingly, people who started statins during the study seemed to have a slower rate of memory loss.
Limitations: This was a well-designed trial, but it should be repeated on larger numbers of people to make sure these findings stand.
A large 2019 study followed over 28,000 older adults for 5 years after they had a concussion. Since concussions raise the risk of dementia, many participants developed dementia during that time. Researchers looked at whether statins made a difference:
Main finding: About 1 in 6 people with a concussion developed dementia. But those taking statins were 13% less likely to develop dementia.
Limitations: This finding doesn’t necessarily apply to all adults. It looked specifically at people who had a concussion and were at increased risk of dementia.
So do statins increase or decrease the risk of dementia?
The most recent and largest review article on this topic found that statins decrease the risk of dementia. But this and other review articles emphasize that there are many other factors that can affect a person’s risk for dementia. These factors can make it harder to understand exactly how statins affect the risk of dementia in a study.
Some of the issues that the researchers found are:
Genetics: People with certain gene variations are more likely to develop dementia.
Ethnicity: People of different ethnicities may process statins in a way that can change the risk of dementia.
Sex: Men and women may respond differently to statins when it comes to dementia risk.
Age: Getting older is the biggest risk factor for dementia.
Medical conditions: Conditions like high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and gum disease are risk factors for dementia. Treating these medical conditions may lower that risk.
Dose and duration of statin use: Many studies that find statins decrease dementia risk included people on different statins, for different lengths of time, and at different doses.
So far, there’s no convincing evidence that statins increase someone’s risk of dementia. In fact, many studies show that statins may protect your brain and reduce dementia risk.
When it comes to your memory, the best research suggests that the benefits of statin therapy outweigh potential risks.
What are the differences between lipophilic and hydrophilic statins?
Statins can be grouped into two types: lipophilic and hydrophilic.
Lipophilic statins (like atorvastatin and simvastatin) are more fat-soluble. This means they can easily enter more tissues throughout your body, including your brain and muscles. Hydrophilic statins (like rosuvastatin and pravastatin) are more water-soluble. They mainly work in your liver.
Some studies show that hydrophilic statins have a more protective effect against dementia than lipophilic statins. But the data is mixed. That’s largely because there are many more factors that can affect a person’s risk for dementia.
Some of the other theoretical differences between lipophilic and hydrophilic statins include:
Hydrophilic statins may have fewer side effects in the rest of your body, like muscle aches.
Hydrophilic statins may reduce your risk of heart failure more than lipophilic statins.
Lipophilic statins may lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol more than hydrophilic statins.
Medical researchers emphasize that there isn’t enough strong evidence to say one type of statin is better than the other. More research is needed to see if the solubility of statins makes a big difference in health outcomes.
What about statins and Alzheimer’s?
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia in the U.S. Statins are also very commonly prescribed. This means that many people who take statins may develop Alzheimer’s. But that doesn’t mean that statins caused it. The two may just occur at the same time.
So, what does the evidence say about the relationship between Alzheimer’s and statins?
One study from 2020 followed 288,000 people for 3 years. It found that people who took statins had almost a 50% lower rate of getting Alzheimer’s disease.
Another research group did a meta-analysis of data from 30 different studies. Together, these studies included nearly 10 million people over the course of 18 years. They found a 30% lower rate of Alzheimer’s in people taking statins.
And the most recent review study found that people who took statins had a 20% lower rate of dementia.
Are there other neurological side effects of statins?
Even though research suggests that statins probably don’t cause dementia, there’s still the question of whether statins might harm the brain in other ways. The answer isn’t clear yet.
Many of the studies mentioned above also looked at other cognitive symptoms and memory loss. They didn’t find evidence that statins increase the risk of these symptoms. Similar to dementia, some of the data suggests statins protected against memory loss.
But some quality research has shown possible links between statins and conditions like Parkinson’s disease and peripheral neuropathy. At the same time, other strong evidence shows that statins may protect against these neurologic diseases.
So, this is an area that needs more research.
Frequently asked questions
There isn’t strong evidence that Lipitor (atorvastatin) causes dementia. In fact, Lipitor is one of the common statins included in studies showing that statins are more likely to lower the risk of dementia.
There isn’t strong evidence that statins cause memory loss. Many studies have found that statins protect against dementia and memory loss in general.
There isn’t solid evidence that statins cause neuropathy in the first place. It’s an uncommon complication, which generally goes away when the statin is discontinued.
Some evidence suggests that hydrophilic statins (like fluvastatin) may be better for avoiding nerve problems than lipophilic statins. Taking niacin along with statins may also help prevent neuropathy, but the evidence isn’t definitive.
If you feel a pins-and-needles sensation after starting a statin, talk with your primary care professional right away. The quicker the medication is stopped, the more likely the neuropathy is to resolve.
There isn’t strong evidence that Lipitor (atorvastatin) causes dementia. In fact, Lipitor is one of the common statins included in studies showing that statins are more likely to lower the risk of dementia.
There isn’t strong evidence that statins cause memory loss. Many studies have found that statins protect against dementia and memory loss in general.
There isn’t solid evidence that statins cause neuropathy in the first place. It’s an uncommon complication, which generally goes away when the statin is discontinued.
Some evidence suggests that hydrophilic statins (like fluvastatin) may be better for avoiding nerve problems than lipophilic statins. Taking niacin along with statins may also help prevent neuropathy, but the evidence isn’t definitive.
If you feel a pins-and-needles sensation after starting a statin, talk with your primary care professional right away. The quicker the medication is stopped, the more likely the neuropathy is to resolve.
The bottom line
Statins are common medications used to lower cholesterol. People who take them often already have many risk factors for dementia. So, it’s more common to see dementia in people taking statins — but that doesn’t mean statins cause it. Most of the current research suggests statins are more likely to lower your risk of dementia. If you have questions about the risks and side effects of a statin, share this with your primary care doctor. They can help you make the safe and best choice for you.
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References
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Al-Kuraishy, H. M., et al. (2019). Statins an oft-prescribed drug is implicated in peripheral neuropathy: The time to know more. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association.
Chong, P. H., et al. (2004). Statin-associated peripheral neuropathy: Review of the literature. Pharmacotherapy.
Climent, E., et al. (2021). Hydrophilic or lipophilic statins? Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine.
Filho, F. L. W., et al. (2025). Statin use and dementia risk: A systematic review and updated meta‐analysis. Alzheimer’s & Dementia Translational Research & Clinical Interventions.
Jamshidnejad-Tosaramandani, T., et al. (2022). Statins and cognition: Modifying factors and possible underlying mechanisms. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience.
Jeong, S. H., et al. (2021). Effects of statins on dopamine loss and prognosis in Parkinson’s disease. Brain.
Lehrer, S., et al. (2020). Statins combined with niacin reduce the risk of peripheral neuropathy. International Journal of Functional Nutrition.
Poly, T. N., et al. (2020). Association between use of statin and risk of dementia: A meta-analysis of observational studies. Neuroepidemiology.
Redelmeier, D. A., et al. (2019). Association between statin use and risk of dementia after a concussion. JAMA Neurology.
Samaras, K., et al. (2019). Effects of statins on memory, cognition, and brain volume in the elderly. Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Torrandell‐Haro, G., et al. (2020). Statin therapy and risk of Alzheimer's and age‐related neurodegenerative diseases. Alzheimer’s & Dementia Translational Research & Clinical Interventions.
Warendorf, J. K., et al. (2019). Statins do not increase risk of polyneuropathy: A case-control study and literature review. Neurology.
Widyadharma, I. P. E., et al. (2021). Prolonged use of statins and peripheral neuropathy: A systematic review. Annals of Medical Research.
Zhou, Z., et al. (2021). Effect of statin therapy on cognitive decline and incident dementia in older adults. Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
