Every month, roughly 2.7 million Australians have a statin dispensed to lower their risk of heart attack and stroke. These medications, which reduce cholesterol, are among the most widely prescribed drugs in the world and have a well-established record of preventing cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death globally. But a more contentious question is now drawing attention: should people who are otherwise healthy take statins as a preventive measure, and might the drugs also protect against dementia?
The evidence on cardiovascular benefit is strong and well documented, particularly for people at elevated risk. The picture regarding dementia is far less settled, with studies producing mixed results and no firm consensus that statins stave off cognitive decline. For healthy people at low risk, the balance of benefits and drawbacks is genuinely debatable, and the decision should rest on individual circumstances rather than a blanket rule. As with so much of medicine, the answer depends on who is asking. What is clear is that these drugs are neither a universal panacea nor a needless precaution, and that a conversation with a physician remains the best way to decide.
