November 2022

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 64. I started taking statins to lower my cholesterol about two years ago. My cholesterol level sometimes went over 200, and after seesawing results, my doctor advised that I was unable to maintain a low cholesterol by diet alone and prescribed a statin. I took 10 mg of atorvastatin. I noticed I started having very detailed and vivid nightmares. (I would rather be awake than be in these nightmares.) The doctor changed me to 5 mg of rosuvastatin. The doctor says my results are very good (cholesterol is 140). I am still having nightmares, but not as frequent as before. I also am having memory issues (e.g., could not remember the names of close colleagues from only two years ago). I recently saw an article that suggested there may be a link between dementia and use of statins.

Q: Will eating a plantbased diet do anything for my prostate or my sexual health? -- Jay S., San Francisco A: We know that a plant-based diet (which avoids highly processed carbs and added sugars and syrups) is great for your cardiovascular system, brain and immune health. All of that contributes to resistance to infection and helps prevent inflammation, heart disease, cancers, erectile dysfunction and more.