Starting statins shortly after receiving a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is associated with a reduced risk of developing dementia, according to a new study of Denmark residents published in The Lancet Regional Health - Europe.
Researchers found that patients who began statin treatment within the first year after diagnosis had a 15 percent lower relative risk of developing dementia over ten years compared to those who did not start treatment.
For individuals who started taking statins between one and five years after diagnosis, the relative risk of dementia was 10 percent lower. Over an average follow-up period of 7.1 years, dementia developed in 2.7 percent of all participants in the trial group.
The comprehensive study analyzed healthcare data from 132,585 residents of Denmark who received a type 2 diabetes diagnosis between 2006 and 2019. Scientists tracked participants by dividing them into three distinct groups: those who began statin therapy within one year of diagnosis, those who started between one and five years later, and those who did not take statins during the first five years.
Cholesterol management and brain health
Authors of the study noted that timely reduction of low-density lipoprotein, frequently referred to as bad cholesterol, may be especially important for people living with type 2 diabetes. They explained that patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes face an elevated baseline risk of cognitive impairment.
Statins are a widely prescribed class of medications designed to lower blood cholesterol levels and mitigate cardiovascular disease risks. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder in which the body becomes resistant to insulin or fails to produce enough of it, leading to elevated blood sugar levels. Over time, unmanaged high blood sugar can damage blood vessels throughout the body, including those supplying vital brain tissues.
Dementia is an umbrella term for neurological conditions marked by progressive memory loss, impaired reasoning, and decline in cognitive abilities that affect daily living. Vascular factors play a significant role in cognitive health, as reduced blood flow or vessel damage in the brain can contribute to cognitive decline.
The publication journal, The Lancet Regional Health - Europe, is a peer-reviewed open access medical journal focusing on clinical and public health research across European populations. Denmark is a Nordic nation in Northern Europe whose centralized health system allows researchers to monitor long-term clinical outcome data across large populations.
Broader cardiovascular benefits
The findings build on earlier research examining the protective health effects of cholesterol-lowering drugs. Scientists previously determined that statins reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke by 30 percent among individuals over 70 years of age.
The study authors highlighted early cholesterol intervention following a type 2 diabetes diagnosis as a critical window for long-term health, suggesting that prompt treatment may help preserve cognitive function alongside protecting cardiovascular health.
