People taking the widely prescribed cholesterol-lowering drug atorvastatin have been urged to speak to their GP if they notice changes in their memory, rather than quietly stopping the medication. The advice comes as research finds no meaningful excess of memory impairment among statin users compared with those given a placebo.
Doctor's advice on memory concerns
Dr Naheed Ali, MD, PhD, a physician and Senior Contributor at Vera Clinic, said people should not stop taking the medication simply because they are worried about their memory. Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mirror, he said: "The Oxford trial data cited here is reassuring, and it's why I wouldn't advise a patient to stop atorvastatin over memory concerns alone."
He added: "That said, someone noticing real changes in recall shouldn't brush them off either, since the cause could be sleep, stress, another medication or something unrelated entirely. The right move is exactly what this piece points to: raise it with a GP rather than quietly stopping a medicine that's protecting the heart."
What the Oxford research found
The advice follows research led by Oxford Population Health, published in The Lancet in February, which examined potential side effects associated with statins. Researchers analysed 23 large-scale randomised trials involving more than 150,000 participants and found no meaningful excess of memory impairment among people taking statins compared with those given a placebo.
Memory or cognitive problems were reported at a similar annual rate of 0.2 per cent among people taking statins and those receiving a dummy treatment. Although memory loss has appeared in statin safety information, the latest research found no good evidence that statins cause the problem at a population level.
Why atorvastatin matters
Atorvastatin is part of the statin family, which works by reducing the amount of cholesterol made by the liver. Lowering cholesterol can help prevent fatty deposits building up in the arteries, reducing the risk of serious cardiovascular problems.
The NHS advises patients to keep taking atorvastatin unless their doctor tells them to stop, as cholesterol levels can rise again after treatment is discontinued. Anyone concerned about side effects should speak to a doctor or pharmacist rather than changing their dose or abandoning treatment without advice. If someone notices persistent or concerning changes in their recall, a GP can help assess possible explanations, including other medicines, sleep difficulties or unrelated health conditions.
