I have often noted that statins can cause memory loss. A new study published in the August 4, 2012, issue of the American Journal of Geriatric Pharmacology has confirmed this once again.

Researchers followed 18 elderly subjects who were given a statin drug for six weeks followed by a withdrawal phase and then a rechallenge with statins for six weeks. The scientists measured the subjects’ cognitive function by administering a battery of tests. The results showed that statins caused a significant decline in the scores on a test called the Mini Mental Status Examination. Furthermore, when the subjects stopped taking statin medication their scores improved.

The authors summarized their findings by stating, “Statins may adversely affect cognition in patients with dementia.”

The majority of the brain is made up of cholesterol. In fact, the highest concentration of cholesterol of any organ in the body is the brain. So if you lower cholesterol levels with a statin drug, what would you expect? Of course, brain function will decline.

These researchers not only put the subjects on statins, they measured their cognitive function while on and off statins — and then rechallenged them again with statins. Each time the subjects were treated with a statin medication, their brain function declined.