Later on, clinical retrospective studies in humans showed that hypercholesterolemia predisposes to cognitive deficits, including dementias of the Alzheimer's type [74], and that chronic treatment with cholesterol-lowering statins seemed to prevent the disease [75,76].
Excess cholesterol in the arteries can lead to strokes — a disruption in blood flow that can damage parts of the brain, leading to loss of memory, movement, difficulty with swallowing and speech and other functions. High blood cholesterol on its own has also been implicated in the loss of memory and mental function.
High cholesterol levels have been associated with schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder.
Human Studies
There is a significant body of evidence that high cholesterol levels may be detrimental to human learning and memory.
And this isn't the first time researchers have found a link between cholesterol and memory problems. An earlier study in 2002, published in the Archives of Neurology, found that women with high levels of LDL had increased degrees of cognitive impairment, including memory loss.
High cholesterol has no symptoms. A blood test is the only way to detect if you have it.
There is an established link between high cholesterol and anxiety. Studies¹ have shown that high cholesterol levels are found more often in people who suffer from an anxiety disorder than those who suffer from other mental health conditions.
While statin users have reported memory loss to the FDA, studies haven't found evidence to support these claims. Research has actually suggested the opposite — that statins may help prevent Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.
It was reported that HMGR inhibition by statins significantly decreases cholesterol biosynthesis in rodent brains [84, 91] and, more recently, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis approaches provided evidence that statins also lead to a significant reduction in protein prenylation in this organ [92].
Over time, high cholesterol leads to plaque buildup inside your blood vessels. This plaque buildup is called atherosclerosis. People with atherosclerosis face a higher risk of many different medical conditions. That's because your blood vessels do important work all throughout your body.
Soluble fiber can reduce the absorption of cholesterol into your bloodstream. Soluble fiber is found in such foods as oatmeal, kidney beans, Brussels sprouts, apples and pears. Add whey protein. Whey protein, which is found in dairy products, may account for many of the health benefits attributed to dairy.
If you notice fatty deposits under your skin, yellowish bumps, patches around your eyes, or mild to severe skin discoloration, you might have a skin condition related to high cholesterol. It's important to work with your healthcare team to check and manage your cholesterol levels.
The more anger and hostility that stress produces in you, the higher (and worse) your LDL and triglyceride levels tend to be. Stress encourages the body to produce more energy in the form of metabolic fuels, which cause the liver to produce and secrete more of the bad cholesterol, LDL.
Completely reversing it isn't possible yet. But taking a statin can reduce the risk of complications from atherosclerosis. It fights inflammation, which stabilizes the plaque. For this reason, statins are often key to treating atherosclerosis.
High blood cholesterol can raise the risk of certain types of dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. However, cholesterol does not enter the brain, and researchers are unsure how these conditions are linked.
If you're taking a statin medication to lower your cholesterol, you will need to keep taking your prescription, or your cholesterol will likely go back up. Stopping your statin can put you at risk of having heart disease and other preventable health problems like stroke and heart attack from high cholesterol.
PCSK-9 inhibitors thus reduce cholesterol levels by maintaining higher levels of LDL receptors that remove cholesterol from the blood. Currently, PCSK-9 inhibitors are limited in use as they must be administered as shots. Further research into them could expand their use as an alternative to statins.
The good news for anyone who experiences cognitive decline related to starting statins? The brain fog goes away when you stop taking the drugs. Bottom line: If your brain tolerates statins, you don't need to worry about long-term cognitive decline as a possible side effect of these medications.
inflammation of the liver (hepatitis), which can cause flu-like symptoms. inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), which can cause stomach pain. skin problems, such as acne or an itchy red rash. sexual problems, such as loss of libido (reduced sex drive) or erectile dysfunction.
Remember that even if evidence shows that statins cause memory problems, it may not be a common problem—and it may even be reversible. If a person stopped taking the medication, the effect would likely improve. If you have been prescribed a statin, never stop taking it without talking to your healthcare provider.
Blood cholesterol is measured in units called millimoles per litre of blood, often shortened to mmol/L. As a general guide, total cholesterol levels should be: 5mmol/L or less for healthy adults. 4mmol/L or less for those at high risk.
A number of studies have linked short-term sleep deprivation with several well-known risk factors for heart disease, including higher cholesterol levels, higher triglyceride levels, and higher blood pressure.
Conclusions: Higher cholesterol levels were particularly associated with panic disorder in comparison with major depression.