Statins and Cognitive Impairment

Findings from a prospective observational study support the thesis that statin use may protect against the eventual development of dementia.

Research findings regarding the posited effects of statins on declining cognitive function are inconsistent. To explore statins’ associations with dementia and with cognitive impairment, no dementia (CIND), investigators analyzed data from a population-based cohort of participants 60 and older in the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging (SALSA).

A total of 1674 participants had no dementia or CIND at baseline. Of these, 452 (27%) used statins at baseline or during the 5-year follow-up period; 43 participants who used other, nonstatin lipid-lowering therapies were classified with the statin nonusers. Of the statin users, 58% took them for 2 study years. Although statin users and nonusers were comparable with respect to many baseline characteristics, a significantly higher percentage of statin users than nonusers had a history of diabetes. During follow-up, 130 participants developed dementia or CIND. In unadjusted analysis, statin use was associated with a 43% decrease in the rate of dementia or CIND, compared with statin nonuse. In a Cox proportional hazards-adjusted model, the rate of dementia or CIND was 44% lower among statin users than among nonusers.

Comment: In this predominantly Mexican American population, statin use was associated with a lower rate of dementia or cognitive impairment without dementia than statin nonuse. However, randomized trials of statins for primary prevention of any kind of dementia or cognitive decline in different populations are needed before statins are routinely deployed to prevent cognitive decline.

— Joel M. Gore, MD

Published in Journal Watch Cardiology July 28, 2008

Citation(s):

Cramer C et al. Use of statins and incidence of dementia and cognitive impairment without dementia in a cohort study. Neurology 2008 Jul 29; 71:344.

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