Statin Study Shows Promise for Alzheimer's Disease

Carol Bradley Bursack is Answering questions Caregiver Author, blogger and eldercare columnist For over twenty years author, columnist and speaker Carol Bradley... Send Message Subscribe: Carol Bradley Bursack

Friday, February 20, 2009
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"This stuff ought to be in the drinking water!" I remember hearing that from doctors when they first found out how effective the early cholesterol-lowering drugs, known as statins, were. Of course, I also read a couple of articles where at least one doctor thought Prozac, an anti-depressant ...

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Study
Leah
Monday, February 23, 2009 at 04:22 PM

Hi, Carol. I have been taking a statin for what seems like forever...and I still developed vascular dementia. I had been taking pills to lower my blood pressure for almost thirty years, and it kept it at a nice low level...and I still developed vascular dementia. Life is very unpredictable. I do hope researchers can find ways to prevent or diminish dementia/Alzhiemers. I'm not sure that the forty-three percent mentioned is such a great number to be getting too excited about, but it does give us hope that one day in the future, researchers will find the key to unlock the ravages of Alzheimers and all other types of dementia.

Thanks for keeping up with the research. At the moment, I am having a very hard time dealing with it...I can't seem to wrap my mind around what is being said... I hope it gets better for me; I'm hoping it's just fatigue... My best to you, my friend.

Leah

re: Study
Carol Bradley Bursack
Monday, February 23, 2009 at 04:41 PM

Leah, I've got to tell you, these studies will keep contradicting each other, so don't weary yourself over them. I try to keep people informed on new studies, but none of them by themselves mean a whole lot (unfortunately). As you say, you did all the "right stuff" for your blood vessels and you still got vacular dementia. There are no absolutes.

Hang in. You are a marvel.

Blessings,

Carol

Untitled Comment
dadcarer
Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at 01:49 AM

I was just getting ready to praise the Lord for giving me high cholesterol, when I read Leah's comment. I guess there are no guarantees in life. But I'm going to keep taking those statins and see whether my liver outlives the onset of dementia or vice versa. Thanks for an interesting article.

Shari

www.care2tell.com

re: Untitled Comment
Carol Bradley Bursack
Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at 10:50 AM

Yeah, these studies are going to keep us all "amused" at least. There are no guarantees, you are right. I used to be thrilled I was on HTR because of all the "good side effects." Well, you know what happened there.

Best,

Carol

Statins
Connie Moore
Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at 04:15 AM

Hi Carol

Thank you for writing about the good and bad of statins. I am one of those unfortunate people that my body produces to much cholesterol on its own. My doctor have been baffled by this for years. After Rays first heart attack I took cooking classes to learn to cook cholesterol free or as free as possible. I have taken stains for years with almost no results. Each new doctor puts me on a cholesterol free diet trying to lower my cholesterol. The only thing it accomplishes is drop my weight below a 100 pounds. That is what they don't get, I weigh normally between 112 and 115 and then put on that diet drops my weight dramatically. I don't get it and they don't get how it is so high for my size and with my healthy eating habits. My cholesterol level stays so high they haven't been able to get a good cholsterol reading in years. The only thing they all say is stress in my life in their opinion is a huge factor. I have had to laugh when they have said I need to live more stress free. I don't think they have invented a pill that will help me with that. Funny what our bodies do to us. As Leah said you live right and do what is right and it basically is a coin toss on what happens. I haven't given up and won't. I pray they will soon have an answer for us all on what or how we could posssible prevent this disease. Thank you Connie

re: Statins
Carol Bradley Bursack
Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at 11:00 AM

Connie, I assume they are dividing the types of cholesterol? I have really high "good" cholesterol, and fine "bad." If I went on the diet they ask for, I would weigh 30 pounds! I, too, have trouble keeping weight on. I'm small, but I should still weigh more than I do. Even though my total cholesterol is high, it's because of the good stuff, so I don't take statins.

If yours is high because of Low density cholesterol, however, then that is puzzling. You'll have to work with the doctors, but if they think statins are good for you, maybe that is okay.

We have these health choices to make everyday. It's never easy.

Carol

re: re: Statins
Connie Moore
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 at 03:15 AM

Hi Carol

My last reading was 397. I have a problem with low density. I have had this for years and they can't figure it out. I had my first heart attack before I was 40 yrs old. I didn't know until the doctors told me that high stress can affect your cholesterol. They have tried to research if my second hand exposure to ageant orange has caused this as it is not a family trait. I am the smallest member of my family and the only one to have high blood pressure and a heart attack. Go figure I eat the healthiest in my family. I see a new doctor on the 4th and dread it because once the cholesterol reading comes back I will be put on a diet again. Thank you Connie

re: re: re: Statins
Carol Bradley Bursack
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 at 01:48 PM

Wow, that really is a deal! Since diet won't help, they'll have to work with drugs. Stress affects everything in our bodies, and you've had a ton.

Blessings,

Carol

Statin
N.C.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at 08:31 PM

Carol,

I am glad to know this. My Mom is taking Statin. My FIL is also taking statin now. Since my FIL has late Alzheimer's, we can for sure try to see if he gets better. Lately he seems to remember some stuff sometimes. It is too late to reverse the course, but it would probably delay his dementia as his dementia has been delayed before by Alzheimer's drugs. His heart medications happen to help dementia.
There is another proof by some medical people (e.g., my niece who is an MD and she helped a lab.) saying that taking statin and Q10 together will help the patient. I forgot in what sense, but it would help the heart patient. Q10 is some good stuff - good for cancer and etc.

I hope we will have more "miracle" drugs in the future.

Nina