Cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins could play a key role in reducing the risk of dementia, according to findings presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2026.
A 15-year study involving more than 132,000 patients from 2006 to 2019, with follow-up through 2021, found that statins may reduce the risk of developing dementia by up to 15%, with the greatest benefits seen among those who begin treatment early.
Researchers said the findings offer a potential lifeline as the number of people living with dementia worldwide is projected to nearly triple to 153 million by 2050.
The Danish observational study, conducted by researchers from Copenhagen University Hospital and published in The Lancet Regional Health–Europe, analyzed 132,585 statin-naive individuals diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes between 2006 and 2019.
Results showed that patients who started statin therapy within a year of their diabetes diagnosis reduced their relative risk of developing dementia over 10 years by 15% compared with those who did not take the medication.
Those who began treatment later—between one and five years after diagnosis—still saw a 10% reduction in dementia risk.
“Timing matters within that—acting early looks better than acting late,” said Tummas Ternhamar, the study’s lead researcher, during the ESC Congress 2026. “Our study supports the idea that dementia risk is best addressed by targeting several factors at once, and that cholesterol may belong on that list.”
Medical experts said the protective effect may stem from statins’ ability to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
“We hypothesised that early initiation of LDL-C-lowering statins following type 2 diabetes diagnosis could be associated with a lower risk of dementia,” Ternhamar said. “And we tested this in a large nationwide study using analysis methods to emulate a randomised trial and reduce some of the bias associated with observational studies.”
High LDL cholesterol contributes to plaque buildup and atherosclerosis, which can narrow and harden blood vessels. By helping keep arteries clear, statins may preserve blood flow to the brain and protect against cerebrovascular damage and ischemic stroke—providing a plausible biological link to cognitive protection.
Added benefits for the elderly
Separate research presented at the same congress highlighted additional benefits of statins for older adults.
A trial conducted by Monash University in Australia and published in the New England Journal of Medicine followed 10,000 healthy individuals aged 70 and above over six years.
The study found that participants who took statins were 30% less likely to experience major cardiovascular events, such as heart attack or stroke, compared with those in a control group.
“The risk of heart attack and stroke is a concern for older people, and knowing there is an effective measure for lowering that risk will be a huge reassurance,” said Sophia Zoungas, expressing hope that clinical guidelines will be updated to reflect the findings.
Next steps
Medical professionals welcomed the results of both studies, noting that statins are already widely available and commonly prescribed worldwide.
Alzheimer’s Research UK researcher Honorine Lebraud said the findings reinforce the long-standing view that “what is good for the heart is good for the brain.”
However, experts cautioned that the Danish study was observational, meaning it shows an association rather than direct causation.
Meanwhile, Isabel Goncalves pointed to the practical implications of the findings.
“Because statins are widely available and inexpensive, the findings are potentially important. The results should therefore support further research and help inform discussions between patients and clinicians,” she said.
