Statins & Alzheimer's

[harryg]

Asking for / on behalf of a family member.

Person (male, 71) started to have noticeable dementia about 1 year ago.

Was prescribed statins about a year before that (to lower cholesterol/triglycerides).

Person has lost a lot of weight, complains of muscular cramps and always feeling cold.

No longer washes, does not join in conversations, sometimes does not recognise wife etc.

We have heard conflicting stories about statins & Alzheimer's...

Any opinions welcome. Apologies only partial information.

[SOL]

In other words, according to the University of California at Los Angeles authors, taking lipophilic statins—which include atorvastatin, simvastatin, lovastatin, fluvastatin, cerivastatin, and pitavastatin—appears to more than double those patients’ risk of developing dementia compared with those who do not take statins. While hydrophilic statins focus on the liver, lipophilic statins are distributed to tissues throughout the body.

“There have been many conflicting studies on the effects of statin drugs on cognition,” said Prasanna Padmanabham, project head of the statins and cognition in the molecular and medical pharmacology student research program at UCLA. “While some claim that statins protect users against dementia, others assert that they accelerate the development of dementia. Our study aimed to clarify the relationship between statin use and subject’s long-term cognitive trajectory.”

The study team looked at several factors:
• Neuropsychological status at baseline,
• Relatively high versus low serum cholesterol levels at baseline
• Statin use versus nonuse
• Among users, type of statin used.

“The present analysis focuses upon outcomes of subjects with early mild cognitive impairment (eMCI), comparing users of statins with known moderate (atorvastatin) or high (simvastatin) lipophilicity and blood-brain barrier penetrance (LS), to non-users (nonS), or users of other statins (OS),” the authors explain.

Participants were enrolled in the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative at over 50 North American sites. The patients were then grouped into those above (n = 103) or below (n = 200) the median cholesterol level of the nonuser subjects (206 mg/dl).

Researchers report that, while serum cholesterol levels at baseline ranged widely (101-358 mg/dl), among all eMCI subjects, the average baseline cholesterol levels did not significantly differ between those who converted to dementia within 96 months as opposed to those who did not.

After excluding statin users with less than 96 months of use, the below-median cholesterol group consisted of 157 patients—67 nonusers, 72 on lipophilic statins, and 18 on other statins; within that group, according to researchers, average serum levels also did not differ between those who did (166 mg/dl) and did not (171 mg/dl) convert to dementia.

“There was, however, a significant difference observed in conversion rates within this group according to statin use: among LS, 24% converted to dementia, vs. only 10% of nonS (P = .04) in the ensuing 96 months, while conversion rate of OS did not significantly differ from nonS subjects (11%, P = .94),” the authors point out. “Moreover, posterior cingulate metabolic decline was identified among LS users, (P <.0005, highly significant after statistical correction for multiple comparisons), while no significant decline occurred among OS and nonS subjects. Finally, in the above-median cholesterol stratum, the difference in conversion rates of statin users and nonusers was not significant (P = .72).”

That led to the conclusion that, among patients with early mild cognitive impairment and low-to-moderate serum cholesterol levels at baseline, patients prescribed lipophilic statins had more than twice the risk of developing dementia over 8 years of follow-up versus no statin use. Researchers emphasize that the patients also demonstrated a consequential decline in metabolism of the posterior cingulate cortex—the region of the brain most affected in the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease—even though no such decline was seen in users of other statins or those with higher baseline serum cholesterol levels.

“By characterizing the metabolic effects associated with statin use, we are providing a new application of PET to further our understanding of the relationship between one of the most commonly used classes of drugs and one of the most common afflictions of the aging brain,” Padmanabham said. “Findings from these scans could be used to inform patients’ decisions regarding which statin would be most optimal to use with respect to preservation of their cognition and ability to function independently.”

https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/so ... ive-issues


There are also studies that state Statins lower the risk, so you need to read the details closely. One of my Dr's recommended it a few moons ago when my cholesterol hit 180. I told him i was fine with 180 to 200 readings and I would not want it to drop below 160 at that time. Now I am fine with up to 220 but it usually ranges in the 180 to 200 ranges. My HDL is quite high, but studies indicate that HDL, does not matter as much as experts suggest.

High Dosage of B3 can lower cholesterol quite effectively without almost any side effect other than flushing.

Niacin can lower triglycerides by 25% and raise HDL cholesterol by more than 30%.

Triglyceride levels over 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or 1.7 millimoles per liter (mmol/L) have been associated with a higher risk of heart disease.

The risk of heart disease is also increased in men who have HDL levels below 40 mg/dL (1.0 mmol/L) and in women who have HDL levels below 50 mg/dL (1.3 mmol/L).

There's currently some debate about the exact role HDL plays in the body and in the development of heart disease. But HDL has generally been thought to pick up excess bad cholesterol in the blood and take it to the liver for disposal, which is wh

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-con ... holesterol.

Results: Lipid profile of the hypercholesterolemic group as well as hypercholesterolemic + diabetic group as compared with the control groups showed highly significant improvement on the day 21 and day 42 of the experiment. The values of serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and total lipids (TL) showed highly significant decrease whereas serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol showed highly significant increase.

Conclusion: Nicotinic acid is the most effective agent available in increasing HDL cholesterol and lowering serum TC, triglycerides (TG), LDL cholesterol and TL in hypercholesterolemic Diabetic and hypercholesterolemic non-diabetic Albino rats.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3858911/

[Yodean]

Asking for / on behalf of a family member.

Person (male, 71) started to have noticeable dementia about 1 year ago.

Was prescribed statins about a year before that (to lower cholesterol/triglycerides).

Person has lost a lot of weight, complains of muscular cramps and always feeling cold.

No longer washes, does not join in conversations, sometimes does not recognise wife etc.

We have heard conflicting stories about statins & Alzheimer's...

Any opinions welcome. Apologies only partial information.

I won't bore you with a long list of references, etc.

But yeh, statins have a lot of underreported/suppressed adverse side-fx, including cognitive decline/Alzheimer's.

Especially if they are used on a chronic basis.

There are a few clinical scenarios where their potential benefits outweigh the risks, especially if they are used only temporarily, but in general, one should avoid them if at all possible.

Statins aren't as bad as the current cv19 vaccines, but they are definitely over-prescribed and their adverse side-effect profile understated.

One experiment (pretty safe) for your family member - get off the statin, start taking 1 to 2 tablespoons of coconut oil daily, and increase that dose of coco oil as tolerated over time.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the above protocol may improve his cognitive status.

[SOL]

One experiment (pretty safe) for your family member - get off the statin, start taking 1 to 2 tablespoons of coconut oil daily, and increase that dose of coco oil as tolerated over time.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the above protocol may improve his cognitive status.

Throw in a bit of MB if you are open to it. PQQ can also Help; it protects the Mitochondria from Oxidative stress and promotes mitochondrial biogenesis. Coconut oil is super. If I fry anything, it's almost always with Coconut oil. Also, swish with it and take several spoons every week.

Been experimenting with Succinic acid, and it is not bad so far


In rats with experimental encephalopathy caused by intoxication with 4-pentenoic acid inhibiting beta-oxidation of medium- and long-chain fatty acids, hepatoprotector silimarin inhibited LPO, prevented deenergization and maintained high respiratory activity of brain mitochondria, and increased the rate and coupling of oxidation and phosphorylation. Succinic acid improved oxidation of substrates in motochondria and promoted activation of succinate-dependent ATP generation. Silimarin and succinic acid used together produced a synergistic protective effect on brain mitochondria surpassing the protective effects of individual preparations and prevented LPO activation.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18856206/


A key pathophysiological process and therapeutic target in the critical early post-injury period of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is cell mitochondrial dysfunction; characterised by elevation of brain lactate/pyruvate (L/P) ratio in the absence of hypoxia. We previously showed that succinate can improve brain extracellular chemistry in acute TBI, but it was not clear if this translates to a change in downstream energy metabolism. We studied the effect of microdialysis-delivered succinate on brain energy state (phosphocreatine/ATP ratio (PCr/ATP)) with 31P MRS at 3T, and tissue NADH/NAD+ redox state using microdialysis (L/P ratio) in eight patients with acute major TBI (mean 7 days). Succinate perfusion was associated with increased extracellular pyruvate (+26%, p < 0.0001) and decreased L/P ratio (-13%, p < 0.0001) in patients overall (baseline-vs-supplementation over time), but no clear-cut change in 31P MRS PCr/ATP existed in our cohort (p > 0.4, supplemented-voxel-vs-contralateral voxel). However, the percentage decrease in L/P ratio for each patient following succinate perfusion correlated significantly with their percentage increase in PCr/ATP ratio (Spearman's rank correlation, r = -0.86, p = 0.024). Our findings support the interpretation that L/P ratio is linked to brain energy state, and that succinate may support brain energy metabolism in select TBI patients suffering from mitochondrial dysfunction
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30042490/

[harryg]

Thank you both so much. We have passed on some of this, although I fear it will fall on deaf ears.

You do what you can...

[SOL]

Thank you both so much. We have passed on some of this, although I fear it will fall on deaf ears.

You do what you can...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGE6gzkMAfw
Nothing ventured, nothing gained. And if they don't listen, it's their loss. But I know the feeling, 9 out of 10 times I know whatever I say to outsiders will fall on deaf ears

[Yodean]

Thank you both so much. We have passed on some of this, although I fear it will fall on deaf ears.

You do what you can...

That's all you can really do. We all have our fates, destinies, etc.

I was happy I played a significant role in my mother-in-law not taking statins - she's healthy as a horse, and continues to be. And her whole family stopped getting cv19-vaxxed after the 1st or 2nd shots, thanks to my spouse.

From my decades of experience dealing with tens of thousands of patients, I've learned that it's often much easier to get someone to try something if you make it simple, time-limited, fairly easy to do, and with clear outcomes.

So for your family member with the potential statin-induced cognitive decline/muscular cramps, it could look something like this:

-for 3 - 4 weeks, get off the statins;

-during that time, take at least 1 to 2 tablespoons of coconut oil in the morning; also drink some black coffee; initially, some may experience mild stomach upset +/- loose bowel movements, but these usually go away quickly as your body adapts;

-continue to increase the dose of coconut oil as tolerated;

-at the end of the 3 - 4 weeks, see if your symptoms have improved; then you can decide how to proceed, which includes going back to the statins;

*****

It's overwhelming for most to suddenly change a bunch of things at once. But by making it time-limited and with clear, simple actions, there's a higher probability a candidate is willing to try a particular plan.

Things like adding rhodiola rosea, shilajit, and methylene blue to the above will most likely help as well, but telling your particular family member to do all of the aforementioned plus all the supplements is likely to prove overwhelming.

As always, start small, but dream big.

[harryg]

Noted thank you, useful info, hopefully for someone else in the future.

Unfortunately this detailed and cogent information, which we put into French, was rejected with the comment "Yes that is interesting. Shame it's too late now".

Just shows that people do not read, do not question, do not want to know, are not interested in doing anything about a situation up to and including the quality of life of their loved ones if it involves any effort whatsoever. FFS.

[Budge]

Noted thank you, useful info, hopefully for someone else in the future.

Unfortunately this detailed and cogent information, which we put into French, was rejected with the comment "Yes that is interesting. Shame it's too late now".

Just shows that people do not read, do not question, do not want to know, are not interested in doing anything about a situation up to and including the quality of life of their loved ones if it involves any effort whatsoever. FFS.

I think you just proved Newton's first law of motion or rather inertia.

[Triplethought]

Statins aren't as bad as the current cv19 vaccines, but they are definitely over-prescribed and their adverse side-effect profile understated.

One experiment (pretty safe) for your family member - get off the statin, start taking 1 to 2 tablespoons of coconut oil daily, and increase that dose of coco oil as tolerated over time.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the above protocol may improve his cognitive status.

Out of curiosity I went and asked the new chatbotgpt https://chat.openai.com/chat this question. Some people are saying this AI may partially replace Google. the question I posed was:
"are statins scientifically linked to alzheimer's or other adverse health effects? "

There is currently no scientific evidence to suggest that statins, which are a type of medication used to lower cholesterol levels, are linked to Alzheimer's or other adverse health effects. Some studies have suggested a possible association between statins and an increased risk of developing cognitive impairment or dementia, but these studies have been inconsistent and more research is needed to confirm any potential link. Additionally, the benefits of statins in reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke generally outweigh any potential risks. It is always important to discuss any concerns you have about your medication with your doctor.

I wonder how many articles the chatbot looks at before giving this kind of answer.

[Yodean]

Just shows that people do not read, do not question, do not want to know, are not interested in doing anything about a situation up to and including the quality of life of their loved ones if it involves any effort whatsoever. FFS.

Way of the world, nature of the beast. It's never too late.

Here's another interesting tidbit:

*****
Vitamin D supplements could potentially be the key to staving off Alzheimer’s disease, according to new research. Brains of older people with higher levels of the nutrient function better, say nutritionists at Tufts University.

The main natural source is sunlight, but wrinkly skin is less efficient at converting it, meaning older individuals are more likely to be deficient. This new study of brain tissue samples points to just how powerful vitamin D is when it comes to boosting brain health.

“This research reinforces the importance of studying how food and nutrients create resilience to protect the aging brain against diseases such as Alzheimer’s and other related dementias,” says senior and corresponding author Dr. Sarah Booth, in a statement. Booth is the director of the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts and lead scientist of the HNRCA’s Vitamin K Team.

Prior research warns that the number of dementia cases worldwide will triple to more than 150 million by 2050. With no cure in sight there is an increasing focus on preventive measures such as lifestyle.

Dr. Booth and colleagues examined post mortem samples of brain tissue from 209 participants in the Rush Memory and Aging Project that began in 1997. It is the first analysis of its kind, comparing vitamin D levels in adults who suffered from varying rates of cognitive decline.

“Many studies have implicated dietary or nutritional factors in cognitive performance or function in older adults, including many studies of vitamin D, but all of them are based on either dietary intakes or blood measures of vitamin D,” notes lead author Kyla Shea, a scientist on the Vitamin K Team and an associate professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts. “We wanted to know if vitamin D is even present in the brain, and if it is, how those concentrations are linked to cognitive decline.”

The team at Tufts University in Massachusetts found more vitamin D in all four brain regions they looked at correlated with better mental skills. Two areas are associated with changes linked to Alzheimer’s, one with dementias due to to blood flow and the other without any associations with brain or vascular diseases.

*****

[SOL]

The Cholesterol Myths

Here are the facts!

Cholesterol is not a deadly poison, but a substance vital to the cells of all mammals. There are no such things as good or bad cholesterol, but mental stress, physical activity and change of body weight may influence the level of blood cholesterol. A high cholesterol is in fact beneficial, probably because it partake in our immune system.
Read more >>

A high blood cholesterol is said to promote atherosclerosis and thus also coronary heart disease. But many studies have shown that people whose blood cholesterol is low become just as atherosclerotic as people whose cholesterol is high.
Read more >>

Your body produces three to four times more cholesterol than you eat. The production of cholesterol increases when you eat little cholesterol and decreases when you eat much. This explains why the ”prudent” diet cannot lower cholesterol more than on average a few per cent.
Read more >>

There is no evidence that too much animal fat and cholesterol in the diet promotes atherosclerosis or heart attacks. For instance, more than twenty studies have shown that people who have had a heart attack haven’t eaten more fat of any kind than other people, and degree of atherosclerosis at autopsy is unrelated with the diet.
Read more >>
The only effective way to lower cholesterol is with drugs, but neither heart mortality or total mortality have been improved with drugs the effect of which is cholesterol-lowering only. On the contrary, these drugs are dangerous to your health and may shorten your life.
Read more >>

The modern cholesterol-lowering drugs, the statins, do prevent cardiovascular disease, but the effect is minuscule and is due to other mechanisms than cholesterol-lowering. Unfortunately, they also stimulate cancer, disturb the functions of the muscles, the heart and the brain and pregnant women taking statins may give birth to children with malformations more severe than those seen after thalidomide.
Read more >>

Many of these facts have been presented in scientific journals and books for decades but are rarely told to the public by the proponents of the diet-heart idea.
Read more >>

The reason why laymen, doctors and most scientists have been misled is because opposing and disagreeing results are systematically ignored or misquoted in the scientific press.
Read more >>

The Benefits Of High Cholesterol
Read more >>

Cholesterol is Our Best Friend. This is a popular-scientific version of our paper which was published in Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology

http://www.ravnskov.nu/cholesterol/
Mind you the Dude is a doctor also


https://www.ravnskov.nu/wp-content/uplo ... /01/CM.pdf

[langdj]

For me, the first "Red Pill" was food / cholesterol. Learning what the main stream said about that was bullshit. Secondly, it was the the stock market, learning that main stream media's job was herding in the masses in a direction with the goal of taking advantage of them.

Now you can add things like cancer, vaccines, etc, etc, etc, etc .........and etc

If anyone is looking for a chill podcast that will dive into this topic of cholesterol / diet and present evidence in the form of anecdotal, peer reviewed and N=1 this might be your place. I love this guy!

https://www.instagram.com/anthonychaffeemd/

[Yodean]

For me, the first "Red Pill" was food / cholesterol. Learning what the main stream said about that was bullshit.

Pretty smart dude, Hippocrates was.

I'd prolly add intermittent fasting to that quote, but in a way, fasting is just part of (not) eating food.