26 Comments
User's avatar
David Tobolowsky MD's avatar

In balancing benefits vs risks, most individuals should prefer to risk an idiosyncratic cognitive effect from statins over the much higher risk of cognitive problems from the consequences of untreated high cholesterol.

Michael Richman MD, MMM, FACS's avatar

I couldn’t agree with you more and also the fact that vascular dementia is a very common cause of dementia and the treatment is aggressive cholesterol lowering with statins

Lillie Woodard's avatar

Thank you for all of the valuable information you share with us on your videos. You are appreciated more than you know.

Michael Richman MD, MMM, FACS's avatar

Thank you so much. That means a lot to me.

Lisa Reischman's avatar

Thank you Dr. Richman. As a cardiac patient, I listen to the information you share and so appreciate your depth of knowledge and dedication . I’ve been on atorvastatin for several years with no side effects or problems at all. I’m a believer!

Michael Richman MD, MMM, FACS's avatar

Thank you for your comment, Lisa. I appreciate you listening to my videos. The sad thing is that 99.9% of people take statins without one issue. And it’s funny how once somebody has a heart attack or a stroke, if they’re lucky to survive it, they can’t wait to be on a statin and All the “issues” that they had previously suddenly disappear

Dr Efevretis's avatar

The framing here is the right one, and the 55-trial, seven-million-patient base is about as decisive as this question gets.

The angle I'd add: the "statins erase memory" narrative grew largely out of spontaneous adverse-event reports, where people who already expect a harm are far likelier to notice and attribute it. That reporting loop inflates exactly the symptoms hardest to measure, like memory and fog. What makes a blinded randomized comparison decisive isn't only its size, it's that it breaks the expectation-to-report loop the observational signal was built on.

Laura's avatar
6dEdited

Thank you for alleviating my fears about statins. I was just put on rosuvastatin 10mg and was very apprehensive, but no negative side effects so far. I'm quite glad I don't have to deal with hyperlipidemia often in my own patients (except some schnauzers or those with Cushing's disease or hypothyroidism), and can usually control it with diet and treating the underlying disease.

Michael Richman MD, MMM, FACS's avatar

I’m glad you’re doing the right thing by taking medicines. Believe me I do because I have no intention of dying from the disease that I treat.

Loretta De Sio's avatar

Once again, as always, an excellent video. I try to catch all of your vids. I appreciate learning everything you share withus.

Michael Richman MD, MMM, FACS's avatar

Thank you so much, Loretta

Donna Sinn's avatar

I really appreciate Dr. Richman’s advice and informational health coverage.

Michael Richman MD, MMM, FACS's avatar

Thank you so much, Donna. I appreciate you.

Blue-G's avatar

So many people are ignoramuses.

Deirdre's avatar

Thank you!

Gordiusmaximus's avatar

Thanks Doc! Thanks for what you are doing to educate the common man.

Michael Richman MD, MMM, FACS's avatar

Thank you so much for listening

Shirley Weaver's avatar

Thank you

LJ Osbun's avatar

Another well done informative video. Thank you.

Michael Richman MD, MMM, FACS's avatar

You’re very welcome thank you so much for watching

never2old2resist's avatar

I've been soaking up all of your videos and the in-depth research that you provide. Thank you so much!!

Michael Richman MD, MMM, FACS's avatar

You’re very welcome. Thank you so much for your support and for watching.

Brenda Bredahl's avatar

Dr. Richman, i value your edu and knowledge and appreciate all your content! Back when i was a journalist, Mother Jones was a respected alternative news and culture magazine with excellent editors, (monika bauerlein sp?comes to mind) diverse opinions, first person accounts in addition to the well-researched investigative pieces it was long known for. Now i agree — the epoch times and the ny post are tabloids, recycling or aggregating content and not providing deep dive reporting.

Michael Richman MD, MMM, FACS's avatar

I know I used to like Mother Jones but all of these publications, whether left or right have sold out in order to increase readership and the “trusted sources” that they use are often times not even medical doctors

Mishbich's avatar

Sorry I’ve watched my mother and father in law lose their minds with statins.

Julie C. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧's avatar

I stopped taking statins about three months ago after reading that cholesterol was needed. I had no idea.

Hub still takes them.

Had a stroke about 10 years ago, the only thing they could find was that my blood was a bit “gloopy”, so I don't want to stop taking the thinners.