Cholesterol-lowering statin drugs are the most-used drugs in the western world…with nearly 50 percent of Americans over the age of 75 taking one.
But we KNOW they don’t prevent you from dying from heart disease…and they CAUSE a slew of nasty side effects. Including a higher risk of developing cancer, Type II diabetes, and even heart disease (the very problem they’re supposed to prevent!).
And now—a brand-new study just found that taking a common type of statin drug more than DOUBLES your risk of developing dementia within just a few years!
Let’s jump right in…
Statins block natural biological processes and CAUSE brain disease
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved statin drugs based on their ability to lower cholesterol. And, yes, they do block your body’s ability to naturally make cholesterol.
But—as I just explained on Monday—artificially lowering cholesterol to reduce heart disease risk is a flawed strategy. That’s because, as you learn in Biology 101, every cell in the human body needs cholesterol. Especially the cells in your brain and nervous system.
So, by blocking the body’s necessary production of cholesterol, these toxic drugs end up causing far more harm than good over the long-term. And that’s exactly what this new study shows…
Researchers followed more than 300 men and women with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) for eight years. At the study outset, they tested the participants’ cholesterol levels, made note of their statin use, administered cognitive testing, and gave them brain scans.
It turns out, those who took a “lipophilic” statin had more than DOUBLE the risk of developing full-blown dementia during those eight years compared to their peers who didn’t take a statin.
(Lipophilic statins include the drugs lovastatin, atorvastatin, and simvastatin. They are attracted to fats in the body and can cross cell membranes into many body tissues, including brain tissue. By comparison, “hydrophilic” statins—which include rosuvastatin and pravastatin—are attracted to fluids in the body. They primarily act in the liver to interfere with cholesterol synthesis.)
In addition, brain scans showed that people who took lipophilic statins had “highly significant” declines in the posterior cingulate cortex—the area of the brain known to decline most significantly in the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
But here’s the really troubling part…
Experts consider “normal” total cholesterol levels to fall below 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). But about 200 of the 300 participants at the study’s outset had cholesterol levels below 206 mg/dL—which fall almost entirely within NORMAL limits.
This makes me wonder…why the heck were they taking a statin drug in the first place?!
So—before you fall victim to one of these dangerous drugs, consider one of the many safe, effective, science-backed, and DRUG-FREE options to supporting heart health…
Four drug-free approaches to protect your heart
We’ve known for at least a decade that statins can cause short-term problems with thinking and memory. In fact, the FDA requires warning labels about the cognitive problems caused by statin drugs!
Granted, some of those short-term problems go away when someone stops taking the drugs. But—as this study suggests—not always. And then, they can cause long-term, life-changing brain damage.
So, then, I heard a so-called “expert” say that the drugs’ “benefits” still outweigh any potential ill-effects on the brain in people with high cholesterol? What benefits?
Well, I wholeheartedly disagree.
Poisoning your body’s normal cholesterol metabolism is NOT a pathway to health. Instead, you should adopt some of the many safe, effective, and science-backed options for supporting heart health…
1.) Eat like the Greeks and Italians. The Mediterranean diet is widely considered the healthiest diet on the planet. It’s also a big reason why Greeks and Italians traditionally maintain such good heart health.
So, I encourage you to eat a variety of these healthy foods all week long: organic, full-fat dairy (like milk, cheeses, yogurts, and butter); five daily servings of fresh fruits and vegetables; nuts and seeds; grass-fed and -finished meats, like lamb; wild-caught fish and seafood; olive oil and red wine or balsamic vinegar; and alcohol, in moderation.
You should also avoid eating ultra-processed foods with added sugars and carbs, which a new study found skyrockets your stroke and heart attack risk.
2.) Supplement with heart-healthy nutrients. Science shows these high-quality supplements—among many others—can help support heart health:
- Barberry — 400 to 500 mg (to lower blood pressure)
- Vitamin B12 — 1,000 micrograms (mcg)
- Vitamin B12 — 1,000 micrograms (mcg)
- CoQ10 — 200 mg
- Vitamin K2 — 150 mcg
For a complete list of heart-saving nutrients, in addition to natural ways to generally protect your heart as you get older, I encourage you to check out my Heart Attack Prevention and Repair Protocol. This innovative, online learning will help eliminate the need for dangerous medications. To learn more, or to enroll today, click here now!
3.) Exercise, but don’t overdo it. Regular, moderate exercise is important for a healthy heart. But the keyword is “moderation.” In fact, as I often report, excessive exercise (what I call “excess-ercise”) can harm your heart and other organs, especially as you get older.
So, aim to get just 140 to 150 minutes total per week of light-to-moderate exercises—like walking, swimming, gardening, or housework.
4.) Reduce stress. You don’t hear cardiologists talk a lot about the cardiovascular impact of stress. But stress increases blood pressure and is the No.1 “silent killer” behind cardiovascular disease.
That’s why I encourage you to seek out natural, effective ways to reduce it, including biofeedback, guided imagery, massage, mindfulness meditation, yoga, and others. (To find out which stress-reduction technique will work best for you, take this quick online quiz and read my popular book with Mike Jawer, Your Emotional Type.)
Sources:
“Lipophilic Statins in Subjects with Early Mild Cognitive Impairment: Associations with Conversion to Dementia and Decline in Posterior Cingulate Brain Metabolism in a Long-term Prospective Longitudinal Multi-Center Study.” Journal of Nuclear Medicine, May 2021; 62(1): 102.
“Lipophilic statin use linked to increased risk of dementia.” Eureka Alert, 6/14/21. (eurekalert.org/news-releases/689025)