Nearly 50% of me and 35% of women in the 60-74 age group are reported to have taken Statins in the past 30 days, reports the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC). That is astonishing! Especially so because there is a mounting body of evidence that statins like Lipitor, Zocor, Mevacor, Pravachol, and other cholesterol-reducing
drugs are associated with memory loss in an unacceptable proportion of users.
Memory loss is the second most common side-effect after muscle pain and weakness in surveys of users.
Thank goodness the US government decided to add ‘that statins may raise levels of blood sugar and could cause memory loss’ to the official warning about side effects. Food and Drug Administration announced this on 29th February, 2012.
Lipitor, from last year available in generic form as Atorvastatin, is the world’s all-time biggest selling prescription medicine with, so far, sales of over US$130 billion). The generic form of Zocor, Simvastatin, in 2010, was the second most widely prescribed drug in the US, according to IMS Health. It is widely used to lower levels of cholesterol in the blood, with the aim of reducing the risks of heart disease and strokes.
So check your pill-bottle labels and discuss the comparative risks with your doctor!
Find out more about nutrition facts important for your brain in Brain Food, Food for Thought by Dr Allison Lamont & Gillian Eadie.
