Statins and reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s

Q: I heard you on your show, “YOU: The Owner's Manual,” say statins reduce age-related memory loss, but I read they contribute to memory loss. I've been reluctant to take them (although my cholesterol is high), because Alzheimer's-type dementia runs in my family. Any guidance would be appreciated. — Amy, K., Westerly, R.I.

A: Although the data aren't definitive, specific statins that don't cross the blood-brain barrier, such rosuvastatin (Crestor) and atorvastatin (Lipitor), along with a heart-, brain- and spirit-friendly lifestyle (walking 10,000 steps a day, avoiding the Five Food Felons and getting stress relief with meditation and healthy sexual activity), can help reduce age-related memory loss.




So, overall, it seems unlikely that statins that don't cross the blood-brain barrier would increase your risk for Alzheimer's disease.


Q: We just had our 25th anniversary, and I hate to think that my husband and I will end up, after years of happiness, with no sex life. People say it's inevitable, but can't older people have a good sex life? — Marian B., Sacramento

A: As long as you avoid the Five Food Felons, keep physically and mentally active, avoid tobacco and manage stress, getting older doesn't have to mean you'll lose interest in sex or your ability to make it happen! And as with fine wines, sex as you age has its rewards — and it's different from being young. While people the world over report active sex lives throughout their 60s, 70s and 80s, hormone levels do decline in both men and women, and that alters the physical drive and bodily responses. Men may take longer to achieve an erection, and women may have less lubrication, and orgasms may feel different. Luckily, sex isn't just about hormones, and those kinds of physical changes can be dealt with through diet, exercise and medications, so check with your doctor.


– Discover what time of the day is the best for intimacy, for both of you.

– Find positions that are comfortable for both of you.

– Don't think that every encounter has to end with orgasm.


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