Further evidence links statin use with lower dementia risk

Further evidence that statin use (e.g. Lipitor, Lipostat etc) is associated with a reduced incidence of dementia and cognitive impairment has come from a US study (Neurology 2008;71:344).

The researchers point out that results of other epidemiological studies evaluating the effect of statins on dementia have been variable, with frequent debate regarding methodological issues.

They used data from the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging, an ongoing prospective cohort study of Mexican Americans aged 60 years or over. Of the 1,674 participants free of dementia or cognitive impairment at baseline, 452 (27 per cent) took statins at some time during the study, 58 per cent of whom used them for two or more years.

A total of 130 participants developed dementia or cognitive impairment over the five-year follow-up period — 58 developed cognitive impairment (10 of whom progressed to dementia) and 82 developed dementia.

After adjusting for confounders, the researchers found that those who had used statins were about half as likely as those who did not use statins to develop dementia or cognitive impairment.