Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

The widely prescribed drug that could cut your risk of dementia

Statins are taken by about eight million people in the UK
Statins are taken by about eight million people in the UK (Getty Images)
  • A South Korean study has found that lower "bad cholesterol" (LDL) levels are linked to a reduced risk of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.
  • Statins, commonly prescribed to lower cholesterol, offered additional protection against dementia, even in individuals with already low LDL levels.
  • Researchers analysed data from more than 570,000 adults, tracking their cholesterol levels and dementia diagnoses.
  • While the study shows a correlation, it doesn't confirm a direct causal link between lower cholesterol and reduced dementia risk.
  • Around eight million people in the UK take statins, making them Britain’s most widely prescribed drugs.
In full

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in