September key update for anyone taking statins for high cholesterol

Need to know

All you need to know as a major 15-year study looked at the impact of medication like Atorvastatin and Simvastatin

Statins slash dementia risk by 15% in major study – need to know

• Millions of Brits taking statins have been given major hope after a groundbreaking study revealed the cholesterol-busting drugs can slash dementia risk by 15%.
• The massive 15-year study tracked over 132,000 people and found those who started taking statins early – particularly after a type 2 diabetes diagnosis – saw the biggest protection against the devastating brain disease.
• Researchers presented their findings at the ESC Congress 2026, with the study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe. The European Society of Cardiology called dementia prevention an ‘urgent priority’ as there’s currently no effective treatment.
• Doctor Tummas Ternhamar from Copenhagen University Hospital said: “Detecting and treating high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) from midlife is one such highlighted risk factor.” He noted this was especially important for type 2 diabetes patients.
• The study found those who started statins during the research period were 10% less likely to develop dementia overall. But crucially, those taking them early reduced their risk by a whopping 15%, with similar results seen in both men and women.
• Professor Isabel Goncalves warned: “This was an observational study, so it cannot prove that statins prevent dementia – the results should therefore support further research.”
• The findings could be game-changing as statins like Atorvastatin and Simvastatin are widely available and cheap on the NHS.
• READ THE FULL STORY: Major update for anyone taking Atorvastatin and Simvastatin in UK