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Diseases

Statins—Is the Price of Low Cholesterol Sore Muscles and Weaker Memory?

Sources: 7 · Article: 10 057 characters

Jerzy Jaśkowski claims that lowering cholesterol reduces brain capacity.

  • He also links statins to the suppression of memory-protein production, and says that lower levels of these proteins are linked to dementia; he links muscle weakness to reduced energy production in cells.
  • He cites FDA warnings about possible memory problems and an increased risk of muscle damage.
  • Andrzej Frydrychowski lists muscle pain and weakness, fatigue, tenderness, cramps, and tendon pain; in one study he describes, myopathy occurred on average in 1.2 out of every 10,000 people taking statins.

What the authors write

Andrzej Frydrychowski

Muscle-related effects of statins include pain, fatigue, tenderness, weakness, cramps, and tendon pain.

„The clinical spectrum of statin-induced myopathy includes muscle pain, myositis, an asymptomatic increase in creatine kinase levels, fatigue, muscle tenderness and weakness, night cramps, and tendon pain. It is estimated that about 1,500,000 people worldwide suffer from muscle diseases caused by taking statins.”Spektrum kliniczne miopatii wywołanej przez statyny obejmuje: bóle mięśniowe, zapalenie mięśni, bezobjawowe zwiększenie stężenia kinazy kreatynowej, zmęczenie, tkliwość i osłabienie mięśni, nocne skurcze i ból ścięgien. Szacuje się, że ok. 1 500 000 osób na świecie cierpi z powodu chorób mięśni, spowodowanych zażywaniem statyn.
Wpływ statyn na nasze zdrowie
Andrzej Frydrychowski

In one study described, myopathy occurred on average in 1.2 out of every 10,000 people taking statins.

„One large population-based cohort study of patients from general practices in the United Kingdom between 1991 and 1997 found that the average rate of myopathy (defined in that study as muscle weakness and elevated creatine kinase levels) among patients taking statins was 1.2 per 10,000 people.”W jednym dużym populacyjnym badaniu kohortowym pacjentów z gabinetów ogólnych w Wielkiej Brytanii w latach 1991-1997, stwierdzono, że średnia częstość występowania miopatii (definiowanej w tym badaniu jako osłabienie mięśni i podwyższone stężenie kinazy kreatynowej) u pacjentów przyjmujących statyny wynosiła 1.2 na 10 000 osób.
Wpływ statyn na nasze zdrowie
Jerzy Jaśkowski

Statins are said to inhibit an enzyme used to produce memory proteins; Jerzy Jaśkowski links lower levels of these proteins to dementia.

„The body uses this enzyme to produce cholesterol, adrenal cortex hormones, sex hormones, and memory proteins. Thus, a decrease in memory-protein levels is directly linked to dementia. HMG-CoA reductases are also responsible for maintaining energy in the cell.”Enzym ten jest wykorzystywany przez organizm do produkcji cholesterolu, hormonów kory nadnerczy, hormonów płciowych i białek pamięci. Tak więc obniżenie poziomu białek pamięci bezpośrednio związane jest z demencją. Reduktazy HMG-CoA są odpowiedzialne także za utrzymanie energii w komórce.
Statyny – lekarze o tym nie mówią
Jerzy Jaśkowski

Jerzy Jaśkowski links muscle weakness in people taking statins to the inhibition of energy production in cells.

„The body uses this enzyme to produce cholesterol, adrenal cortex hormones, sex hormones, and memory proteins. Thus, a decrease in memory-protein levels is directly linked to dementia. HMG-CoA reductases are also responsible for maintaining energy in the cell. This, he says, is why people taking statins experience muscle weakness.”Enzym ten jest wykorzystywany przez organizm do produkcji cholesterolu, hormonów kory nadnerczy, hormonów płciowych i białek pamięci. Tak więc obniżenie poziomu białek pamięci bezpośrednio związane jest z demencją. Reduktazy HMG-CoA są odpowiedzialne także za utrzymanie energii w komórce. Stąd osłabienia mięśniowe u osób przyjmujących statyny.
Statyny – lekarze o tym nie mówią
Jerzy Jaśkowski

Jerzy Jaśkowski cites an FDA warning that statins may cause memory problems.

„Statins have been found to be responsible for more than 300 documented side effects. Even the FDA issued new guidelines for statin labeling, warning that these medicines may cause memory problems and accelerate the development of type 2 diabetes.”Stwierdzono, że statyny są odpowiedzialne za więcej niż 300 udowodnionych skutków ubocznych. Nawet FDA wydała nowe wytyczne dotyczące etykietowania statyn, które mają ostrzegać, że leki te mogą powodować zaburzenia pamięci i przyspieszać rozwój cukrzycy typu 2.
Statyny – lekarze o tym nie mówią
Jerzy Jaśkowski

Jerzy Jaśkowski cites information from the FDA that statins may increase the risk of muscle damage.

„The FDA also reported that statins may increase the risk of muscle damage. These are all official publications in sponsored journals. What is the ministry doing? You guessed it, dear Reader! It is removing the so-called cholesterol pathway from the curriculum at medical schools.”FDA podał także, że statyny mogą zwiększać ryzyko uszkodzenia mięśni. To są wszystko oficjalne publikacje w czasopismach sponsorowanych. Co robi ministerstwo? Oczywiście, zgadłeś Szanowny Czytelniku! Likwiduje temat tzw. szlaku cholesterolowego z nauczania w akademiach medycznych.
Statyny – lekarze o tym nie mówią
Jerzy Jaśkowski

Jerzy Jaśkowski claims that lowering cholesterol reduces brain capacity.

„Lowering cholesterol levels reduces our brain capacity. The pharmaceutical industry focused on developing a drug to lower cholesterol levels. Large-scale measurements of cholesterol levels in people showed in the 1970s that most of the population had a level of about”Obniżanie poziomu cholesterolu powoduje obniżenie pojemności naszego mózgu. Przemysł farmaceutyczny skupił się na wynalezieniu leku obniżającego poziom cholesterolu. Prowadzone na masową skalę pomiary stężenia cholesterolu w organizmach ludzkich wykazały w latach siedemdziesiątych ubiegłego wieku, że większość społeczeństwa posiada poziom ok.
Czego nie wiemy o statynach?

Research from PubMed · Europe PMC

We selected 3 studies with the best, positive results. This is a selection, not a full review of all research.

Total number of studies on this topic in PubMed: 1.

In this group of patients, after stopping statins and starting CoQ10 supplements, the percentage reporting muscle pain and memory problems fell.

Aim of the study: Fifty consecutive new cardiology clinic patients who were on statin drug therapy (for an average of 28 months) on their initial visit were evaluated for possible adverse statin effects (myalgia, fatigue, dyspnea, memory loss, and peripheral neuropathy). All patients discontinued statin therapy due to side effects and began supplemental CoQ(10) at an average of 240 mg/day upon initial visit.

Results: There were two deaths from lung cancer and one death from aortic stenosis, with no strokes or myocardial infarctions. Measurements of heart function either improved or remained stable in the majority of patients. We conclude that statin-related side effects, including statin cardiomyopathy, are far more common than previously reported and are reversible with the combination of stopping statins and taking supplemental CoQ(10). We saw no adverse consequences from stopping statins.

Treatment of statin adverse effects with supplemental Coenzyme Q10 and statin drug discontinuation. · Biofactors 2005
Money for the studynot stated
Do the authors have ties to companies?not stated
Did a manufacturer help with the study?unknown
Type of studyobservation of people

“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.

An analysis of adverse-event reports found signals involving, among other things, myasthenia, neuropathy, and “brain fog” with atorvastatin use.

Aim of the study: Atorvastatin, a widely prescribed HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, is associated with neurological adverse events (NAEs) beyond its well-known myopathy; however, comprehensive evaluations accounting for confounding by indication remain limited.

Results: Of 50 NAE signals identified for atorvastatin, 32 remained significant after exclusion. The strongest signals clustered into three clinically meaningful categories: neuromuscular junction disorders (myasthenia gravis: PRR = 5.65, χ2 = 748.22, EBGM05 = 4.82), peripheral neuropathies (axonal neuropathy: PRR = 6.15, χ2 = 117.78, EBGM05 = 4.14; peripheral sensory neuropathy: PRR = 3.42, χ2 = 182.34, EBGM05 = 2.80), and central nervous system and cognitive disorders (encephalitis toxic: PRR = 7.76, χ2 = 17.11, EBGM05 = 2.39; brain fog: PRR = 2.94, χ2 = 168.76, EBGM05 = 2.46). Additionally, exceptionally strong signals without detailed published case support included acute necrotising myelitis (PRR = 832.92, EBGM05 = 38.61), vibration syndrome (PRR = 37.02, EBGM05 = 14.51), and radiculitis brachial (PRR = 26.03, EBGM05 = 13.57).

Atorvastatin-associated neurological adverse events: a disproportionality analysis with adjustment for confounding by indication. · Front Med (Lausanne) 2026
Money for the studynot stated
Do the authors have ties to companies?no — the authors say so
Did a manufacturer help with the study?NO
Type of studyobservation of people

“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.

The review indicates that muscle symptoms associated with statins are among the main clinical safety concerns.

Aim of the study: Atorvastatin remains a cornerstone of lipid-lowering therapy and cardiovascular prevention, but concerns about adverse effects continue to undermine adherence and long-term clinical benefit. This structured narrative review critically reappraises its safety profile by integrating evidence from randomized trials, meta-analyses, observational studies, pharmacovigilance analyses, case reports, and preclinical models.

Results: Safety is shaped by dose, comorbidities, interacting medicines, pharmacokinetic variability, and transporter variants, particularly SLCO1B1, although the clinical actionability of other pharmacogenomic markers remains limited. We, therefore, emphasize individualized risk assessment, interaction review, appropriate monitoring, dechallenge and rechallenge, dose adjustment, alternative statins, and nonstatin combination therapy when needed. Experimental delivery systems and mechanistic findings may inform future strategies but do not yet establish improved clinical safety. Taken together, the evidence supports a benefit-centered, evidence-stratified framework that addresses genuine toxicity without overstating uncertain safety signals or unnecessarily discontinuing effective therapy.

Atorvastatin Safety Reappraised: From Pharmacogenomic Mechanisms to Personalized Risk Management. · Cardiovasc Ther 2026
Money for the studygovernment, public institutions · Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Hubei Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Scientific Research Project - Traditional Chinese Medicine Joint Fund, Hubei Provincial Natural Science Foundation
Do the authors have ties to companies?no — the authors say so
Did a manufacturer help with the study?NO
Type of studydiscussion of other studies

“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.

Perspectives and opinion materials

The content below presents the authors’ opinions, interpretations and hypotheses. It is not treated as equal to scientific studies and systematic reviews.

Orthomolecular Medicine News Service Opinion material
„Statin side effects may include liver damage; elevated CPK (creatine kinase) and/or muscle pain, aches, and muscle tenderness or weakness (myalgia); drowsiness; myositis (inflammation of the muscles); rare but potentially fatal kidney failure from rhabdomyolysis (severe inflammation of muscle and muscle breakdown); memory loss; mental confusion; personality changes or irritability; headaches; difficulty sleeping, anxiety; depression; chest pain; high blood sugar and type 2 diabetes; acid regurgitation; dry mouth; digestive problems including bloating, gas, diarrhea or constipation; nausea and/or vomiting, or abdominal cramping and pain; rash; leg pain; insomnia; eye irritation; tremors; dizziness; and more.”Statin side effects may include liver damage; elevated CPK (creatine kinase) and/or muscle pain, aches, and muscle tenderness or weakness (myalgia); drowsiness; myositis (inflammation of the muscles); rare but potentially fatal kidney failure from rhabdomyolysis (severe inflammation of muscle and muscle breakdown); memory loss; mental confusion; personality changes or irritability; headaches; difficulty sleeping, anxiety; depression; chest pain; high blood sugar and type 2 diabetes; acid regurgitation; dry mouth; digestive problems including bloating, gas, diarrhea or constipation; nausea and/or vomiting, or abdominal cramping and pain; rash; leg pain; insomnia; eye irritation; tremors; dizziness; and more.
Niacin Beats Statins: Supplements and Diet are Safer, More Effective

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