01 Sep ESC 2026 Conference: Earlier Statin Use After Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis Associated With Lower Dementia Risk
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Shoaib Afzal, MD, PhD, DMSc
Professor; Chief Physician, Clinical Biochemistry
Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Herlev Hospital, Denmark
Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen
Dr. Shoaib Afzal
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Dr. Afzal: With aging populations, the burden of dementia is projected to rise but we still do not have effective treatments. However, there may be a window of opportunity for prevention earlier in life as several treatable risk factors are associated with higher risks of dementia. One of these risk factors is elevated LDL cholesterol that can be lowered with statins. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, people with type 2 diabetes are at significantly elevated risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke, and statin therapy is a cornerstone of risk reduction in this population.
Our study showed that in type 2 diabetes patients being on statins was associated with 15% lower risk of dementia and that those starting earlier rather than later had even lower risk.
MedicalResearch.com: Is there an ideal age to begin statins or a recommended lipid level marker?
Dr. Afzal: We investigated type 2 diabetes patients that are at high risk for cardiovascular disease and dementia in general, and per guidelines most would be eligible to be started on statins immediately after diagnosis. In other cases, cardiovascular risk should be evaluated according to risk factors such as age, sex, smoking, blood pressure, previous disease, and cholesterol levels. Depending on these, treatment can be relevant from a young age to an old age.
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Dr. Afzal: Sadly, statins are underused in even those that should receive them according to clinical guidelines. This observational study adds to a large body of evidence showing that statins have broad cardiovascular benefits also beyond the heart. Lower risks can be observed in those using statins in diseases presenting even in old age, such as dementia. Our study lends support to the notion that dementia could be prevented by optimizing risk factors.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Dr. Afzal: Our study is an observational study and cannot conclusively show causality, even though we tried to account for all sorts of biases. We need large, randomized intervention trials with lipid-lowering therapy showing effects on dementia risks before widespread treatment for prevention of dementia can be recommended. On the other hand, most diabetes patients are as a group undertreated with statins, even though they have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and dementia. So, studies optimizing treatment to guideline standards in these patients would also provide valuable evidence.
Disclosures: None disclosed.
Citation:
Ternhamar T, Johansen M, Nordestgaard B et al. Association between timing of statin treatment after diabetes diagnosis and risk of dementia: a nationwide observational study. The Lancet Regional Health – Europe. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2666-7762(26)00226-7
For a broader overview of how statin use is being studied in the context of dementia prevention and cognitive decline, see this MedicalResearch.com overview of statins and dementia risk — what the research shows.
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Last Updated on September 1, 2026 by Marie Benz MD FAAD