Why Patients Fear Statins Will Affect Their Memory

In an interview with Pharmacy Times, Anum Saeed, MD, a cardiologist, lipidologist, and assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), discussed patient concerns that statins may harm memory and cognitive function, building on her presentation at the National Lipid Association (NLA) 2026 Fall Clinical Lipid Update.

Saeed explained that much of the fear stems from anecdotal post-marketing reports of statin-related memory loss, which led to a 2012 FDA label change. The labeling noted rare reports of cognitive impairment, forgetfulness, and memory loss associated with statin use, describing the symptoms as generally not serious and reversible upon statin discontinuation, with resolution within a median of 3 weeks.

Turning to the evidence, Saeed noted that much of the research has been observational, and some of those studies have suggested a protective effect of statins on memory, cognitive end points, or dementia incidence. In the PROSPER study of pravastatin in older adults, an analysis found no statistically significant differences between statin users and nonusers across multiple cognitive tests.

Saeed described patient concerns as 2-fold: whether statins themselves cause memory loss or dementia, and whether lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol starves the brain of cholesterol it needs. So far, she said, the evidence has said no.

She highlighted the randomized STAREE trial (NCT02099123), conducted in Australia among about 9971 community-dwelling adults aged 70 years and older with no prior cardiovascular events. Atorvastatin (originally Lipitor; Pfizer) strongly reduced cardiovascular events but did not produce a statistically significant difference in disability or death from dementia and other noncardiovascular causes, showing neither harm nor protection. Saeed cautioned that STAREE was powered primarily for cardiovascular events, with dementia embedded as a component rather than a dedicated, adjudicated primary end point.¹

Based on the epidemiological and randomized data available to date, Saeed said she can very confidently state that statins have not shown any true, significant harmful effect on cognitive decline.

REFERENCE

1. Zoungas S, Wolfe R, Moran C, et al. Atorvastatin, cardiovascular events, and disability-free survival in older adults. N Engl J Med. 2026;395(13):1259-1272. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa26073