A new study has found more evidence that the drugs commonly used to lower cholesterol may also offer protection from dementia and memory loss.
Scientists from the University of Michigan say that statins which are normally used to reduce the risk of heart disease, may cut the risk of dementia by half.
The study which was a five-year project, examined 1,674 Mexican Americans aged 60 and over who were fairly typical older people, with diabetes, hypertension and heart disease, all were free of dementia and a quarter were on statins.
It was found that in total 130 went on to develop dementia and after other risk factors, such education, smoking and diabetes were accounted for, it was found that those who took statins had around a 50% lower risk of developing dementia.
Other recent research has also suggested that drugs which are used reduce blood pressure can cut the risk of dementia and with the rates of dementia predicted to soar, this is all good news.
Millions of people worldwide are now prescribed statins which help to reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering levels of cholesterol which clog up the blood vessels.
A poor supply of blood to the brain is suspected to be one factor which promotes the development of dementia so if statins help keep the blood vessels healthy, and blood flowing freely to the brain, they may help protect against the disease.
Lead researcher Professor Mary Haan says if a person takes statins over a course of about five to seven years, it reduces the risk of dementia by half, which is a really big change.