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 charact…

Reviewing Author

Joel M. Gore, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNIH–National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Joel M. Gore, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNIH–National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Statins and Cognitive Impairment

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Reviewing Author