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Dementia Rates PLUNGED in Study of 1 Million People

2025-11-06 People & Blogs
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Dr Brad Stanfield
Dr Brad Stanfield
328.0k subscribers

Cholesterol, Statins, and Modifiable Dementia Risk Factors

Discover why managing blood cholesterol is now considered a key modifiable risk factor for dementia and learn lifestyle changes that support long-term cognitive resilience.

Short Summary

  • Long-term cholesterol management, especially using medications starting younger, shows potential for significant dementia risk reduction based on genetic mimicry studies.
  • Traditional Randomized Control Trials (RCTs) often fail to capture long-term benefits seen in observational studies due to trial duration limits.
  • Untreated sensory deficits (hearing/vision loss) and midlife depression emerge as major, actionable dementia risk factors ranking highly alongside cholesterol.
  • A key takeaway is that treating depression, sensory loss, and managing lifestyle factors (inactivity, obesity) directly lowers your cognitive risk profile.

This presentation reviews the conflicting data regarding statins and brain health, highlighting the strong evidence supporting cholesterol management for dementia prevention. It then pivots to actionable, non-medication risk reduction strategies identified by recent commissions. Readers gain clarity on research limitations and concrete steps to protect long-term cognitive function.

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Description

For weekly health research summaries and extra insights, sign up here 👉 https://drstanfield.com/pages/sign-up 💊 Supplements I Take: https://drstanfield.com/pages/my-supplements 💊MicroVitamin+ (Pro) Powder: https://drstanfield.com/products/microvitamin-plus 💊MicroVitamin Standard Capsules: https://drstanfield.com/products/microvitamin Timestamps: 00:00 Concerns About Cholesterol-Lowering and Brain Health 01:22 Evidence of Statins Affecting Brain Health 02:41 Statins and Dementia Risk 04:38 Contradiction Between Observational Studies and Randomised Control Trials 06:13 New Study on Cholesterol-Lowering Medications and Dementia Risk 09:19 Practical Takeaways for Lowering Dementia Risks 13:26 Supplements for Brain Health 📜 Roadmap - how to look young & feel strong: https://drstanfield.com/pages/roadmap ✔️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradStanfieldMD ✔️ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bradstanfieldmd Here are the links to the research papers referenced in the video: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6844833/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22269162/ https://translationalneurodegeneration.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40035-018-0110-3 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12885101/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19653027/ https://evidence.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/EVIDoa2400112 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11736423/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430817/ https://www.mdpi.com/2813-2564/4/1/2 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-24153-1 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11830700/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12341882/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405650225000449 https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.70638 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6380691 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2824%2901296-0/abstract https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11103094/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8912287/ https://academic.oup.com/nutritionreviews/advance-article/doi/10.1093/nutrit/nuac064/6671817 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7569385/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3610948/ Thumbnail by James Kelly Video edited by Troy Young Script by John Milliken The links above are affiliate links, so I receive a small commission every time you use them to purchase a product. The content contained in this video, and its accompanying description, is not intended to replace viewers’ relationships with their own medical practitioner. Always speak with your doctor regarding the content of this channel, and especially before using any products, services, or devices discussed on this channel.

Top Comments (10)

@lorimckay2704 2025-11-06

they want to put me on statins despite my total cholesterol being only 95 with a LDL of only 50! I refused, makes no sense to me .

137 40 replies
@ultimateultra2419 2025-11-07

After taking cholesterol lowering medication (atorvastatin) for 3 years, I started noticing forgetfulness become significant. I started feeling difficulty recalling the names of the people and items. Specially it was higher in the morning. I was taking statin before sleep. My suspicion went towards atorvastatin. So I stopped taking it without informing the doctor. As per my suspicion, I started feeling better after a week. So I complained to the doctor and changed it to pitavastatin. But the forgetfulness and brain fog again became more. I complained to the doctor again and he changed to rasuvastatin. But the results were the same. So I took my own decision and stopped taking statins. I am off statins from last two years. My memory and brain fog improved significantly. But not fully recovered. I will not take statins again.

50 8 replies
@TCBytom 2025-11-06

Video is interesting, but has ommitted one of the most important studies evern conducted "The Effect of HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors on Cognition in Patients With Alzheimer's Dementia: A Prospective Withdrawal and Rechallenge Pilot Study" The whole point is that these large studies DID NOT measuere cognitive performance! They simply compared how many patients had been diagnosed with dementia in two populations - one with statins and one without it. The problem is, that diagnosis of dementia is largely very raw observation. It are very rarely psychological battery tests done in elderly patients, just quick a few questions or simple tests revealing the more severe cases. That is why these studies don't show real effect, but the one I posted here has been done with full evaluation. And nothing can beat it.

40 8 replies
@2strive4better 2025-11-07

My summary: I don't recall him saying clearly WHY dementia rates plunged. What he did say was that people born with a gene that acts to reduce LDL, similar to the way a statin does, are less likely to have dementia. So it is a way to think of the LONG TERM protective effect of statin (hard to study in short study). Also said that keeping mind active is a way to reduce dementia, as is correcting hearing problems and vision problems (brain connections atrophy with loss of constant sensory input). Also said that Creatine (5g/day) and TMG supplements (1g/day?) are good for the brain.

36 1 replies
@richardfile4001 2025-11-06

Only a relative risk reduction in an area of total confusion. Diet and exercise are part of the answer.

31 1 replies
@DrBradStanfield 2025-11-06

All 21 studies referenced in the video are linked in the video's description 💊Supplements that Dr Brad takes: https://drstanfield.com/pages/my-supplements 💊MicroVitamin (multivitamin & mineral that I take): https://drstanfield.com/products/microvitamin For extra insights + a free health checklist, sign up here 👉 https://drstanfield.com/pages/sign-up

16 4 replies
@crackerjack6075 2025-11-30

Ok, continue to "do the trials and research"... fine But when big pharma doesn't get the answer they want, they can't just shove the whole study in their drawer. I moved and changed primary care doctors. They knew I wasn't fasting, but sent me downstairs for the lipid panel blood draw. I'd just come to the appointment from having lunch with friends... 5 Guys 2 cheese burgers 55min before the draw. Yep, their advise was to put me on a statin. I next went to a new Cardiologist who just looked briefly at my cholesterol and said they don't need me to start the statin. They understood my goals are to 1) drop weight to get off my bad knee so I can be more successful comfortably walk and exercise, 2) seriously attack my insulin resistance (so the weight loss is achieved) and lower bodily inflammation. Cardiologist said those 2 are the grand-slam for me and that Statins DO NOT HELP with me achieve either of those goals. Matter-of-fact, there is solid evidence statins are detrimental to addressing the insulin management. Don't let them dictate your treatment, starting statins, just so their clinic achieves a prescription quota and they get the $$ from the Pharma corruption(s)

9
@SuperJaXXas 2025-11-06

Wow! Profoundly interesting!

5
@RobertBachArt 2025-11-06

Great info! thanks Dr. Stanfield. When a student I worked for a short time as a janitor in a dementia ward. .. seems like several were former teachers. But who knows their activity in later years. My guess is doing HIIT well into old age might be one of the best preventatives.

4
@kattenihatten 2025-11-06

Wow! That is so interesting ❤ Wonderful to hear large studies are giving us answers.

2

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