Menu
Dr. Weil Logo Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
  • Health & Wellness
    Health & Wellness
    Body, Mind & Spirit
    • Addiction
    • Allergy & Asthma
    • Autoimmune Disorders
    • Back Pain
    • Bone & Joint
    • Cancer
    • Colds & Flu
    • Dental & Oral
    • Diabetes
    • Disease & Disorders
    • Ears, Nose, & Throat
    • Feet
    • Gastrointestinal
    • Hair, Skin, & Nails
    • Headache
    • Heart
    • Insects & Parasites
    • Liver & Kidney
    • Mental Health
    • Pregnancy & Fertility
    • Respiratory
    • Sexual Health
    • Sleep Issues
    • Stress & Anxiety
    • Vision
    Balanced Living
    • Exercise & Fitness
    • Gardening
    • Healthy Home
    • Healthy Living
    • Meditation & Inspiration
    • Meet Dr. Weil
    • Pets & Pet Care
    • Technology
    • Wellness Therapies
    Health Centers
    • Aging Gracefully
    • Children
    • Condition Care Guide
    • Men
    • Women
  • Diet & Nutrition
    Diet & Nutrition
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Pyramid
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet Pyramid
    Cooking & Cookware
    Healthy Cooking & Cookware
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Food Safety
    Diets & Nutrition - Food Safety
    Nutrition
    healthy nutrition
    Recipes
    healthy recipes
    Featured Articles
    • Diets & Weight Loss
      Dr. Weil’s Guide To Popular Diets
    • Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Pyramid
      Science of Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition
    • Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Pyramid
      Anti-Inflammatory Golden Milk
    • Gardening
      My Life In The Garden
    • Heart
      Energy Drink Threat?
    • Recipes
      Fava Bean Bruschetta
  • Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Herbs
    herbal remedies - herbs
    Supplements & Remedies
    suppliments & remedies
    Vitamins
    ask-dr-weil_vitamins-supplements-herbs_vitamins-topnav
  • Ask Dr. Weil
  • Blogs
    Blogs
    Bulletins
    The Legacy Of Living Yes | Spontaneous Happiness | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Health Tips
    Healthy Drinks To Start Sipping | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Spontaneous Happiness
    blog_spontaneous-happiness_topnav
  • Healthy Aging
  • Dr. Andrew Weil For Origins
  • Marketplace
  • Podcasts
  • Meet Dr. Weil
Are Statins Messing With Your Memory?
Newsletters
Press "Enter" to search
  1. Home
  2. Health & Wellness
  3. Body, Mind & Spirit
  4. Mental Health

Are Statins Messing With Your Memory?

I’ve heard that taking statin drugs to lower cholesterol can lead to memory loss. Is there any truth to this? If so, can you tell me how common this is and why it happens?

Andrew Weil, M.D. | August 26, 2013

medication prescription
0 shares
2 min

Originally published June 6, 2008. Updated August 26, 2013.

I’ve read uncontrolled case reports associating statins with memory loss, and I’m aware of a website hosted by the VA San Diego Healthcare System in San Diego, Calif., that is collecting reports of statin side effects. Beatrice Golomb, M.D., Ph.D., the physician who has spearheaded this effort, says that cognitive problems are the second most common side effect reported with the first being muscle pain. The volume of similar reports to the FDA prompted the agency to add new wording to statin labels in 2012, stating that these drugs could be associated with memory problems and confusion. Fortunately, both side effects disappear when the drugs are discontinued.

The problem may not be recognized by patients, and because reporting concerns to doctors isn’t mandatory, no one knows how common the cognitive side effects are. Dr. Golomb notes that the data she has collected consist entirely of voluntary self-reports from patients. The reports to the FDA have also come from patients. Based on what I’ve read, however, memory problems appear to be rare, considering the fact that some 30 million people in the United States and millions more worldwide now take statins.

The latest development on this issue comes from a laboratory study at the University of Arizona, which showed unusual swellings within brain cells treated with statin drugs. The researchers described this as a "beads-on-a-string" effect and suggested that understanding it will likely help explain why some people develop memory problems when taking statins. They have found that the "beads" disappear when the drugs are removed. The team plans to investigate how genetics may be involved in "bead" formation, with a hereditary disposition possibly influencing hypersensitivity to the drugs. Genetic differences might also directly impact neurons responses in the brain or influence the interaction of statins with the blood-brain barrier.

Statins are known to sometimes cause muscle aches and liver dysfunction; warnings of both possibilities are prominent in the printed instructions patients receive when they pick up their prescriptions. A long list of other side effects has also been attributed to these drugs, including peripheral neuropathy (tingling and numbness or burning pain), headaches, joint and abdominal pain, problems with sleep and with sexual function.

If you’re taking one of these drugs and find that you’re becoming confused or forgetful, tell your doctor. Lowering the dose may help. Or your physician might suggest going off the drug for a few weeks to see if your memory improves. If it does, you should consider discussing other approaches to cholesterol control with your physician.

Andrew Weil, M.D.

Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging

Start Your 14-Day Free Trial

Free Newsletters

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Follow Dr. Weil’s Food Pyramid

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil - Get Free Newsletters Right In Your Inbox

Trending Now

10 Ways To A Happier Life | Mental Health | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Mental Health

10 Ways To A Happier Life

A Homeopathic Approach to Depression?
Mental Health

A Homeopathic Approach to Depression?

A Pill For Loneliness? | Mental Health | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Mental Health

A Pill For Loneliness?

a supplement to boost serotonin
Mental Health

A Supplement to Boost Serotonin?

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil - Get Free Newsletters Right In Your Inbox

Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
Information
  • About Us
  • Press Information
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Manage Email Subscription
Trending Articles
10 Ways To A Happier Life | Mental Health | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Mental Health

10 Ways To A Happier Life

A Homeopathic Approach to Depression?
Mental Health

A Homeopathic Approach to Depression?

Daily Tips
5 Ways To Minimize Cold Feet
Health Tips

5 Ways To Minimize Cold Feet

Are You Drinking Lemon Water Each Morning? 4 Reasons You Should
Health Tips

4 Reasons To Add Lemon Water To Your Morning Routine

  • Flickr
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. You should not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment. Any third party offering or advertising on this website does not constitute an endorsement by Andrew Weil, M.D. or Healthy Lifestyle Brands.

©Copyright 2019 Healthy Lifestyle Brands, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. www.drweil.com

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil - Get Free Newsletters Right In Your Inbox