In a new study, researchers found no difference in the rate of memory or cognitive decline of elderly statin-users compared to never-users.
Given consumer concern that statins may be linked to memory or cognitive decline, this new study may offer reassurance.
The research was conducted by a team at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Australia.
The team examined changes in the memory and cognition regarding statin-use over a six-year observation period using data of 1037 community-dwelling, non-demented elderly participants in Australia.
Data were collected every two years on four occasions over the six-year period by psychologists and nurses.
Clinicians diagnosed the presence of heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, hypertension, and Type 2 diabetes.
The team found statin ever-users and never-users were similar at the beginning for both memory and global cognition, and there is no big difference in the rate of decline in either memory or cognition.
Participants who took statins continuously over the study period had a much higher baseline performance in memory and global cognition compared to never-users.
The rate of decline in memory and global cognition for this subgroup was similar over the six-year observation period.
When researchers focused on participants who started statins during the study period, they found statin initiation was associated with a lessening in the rate of decline of memory.
Overall, no associations between statin use and cognition were found between baseline and the six years of observation.
The team says not only are statins one of the most prescribed medications in the world, but there is also strong evidence that they reduce mortality in our patients with heart disease, stroke, diabetes, renal disease, and other lipid disorders.
Most importantly, statins aren’t associated with a risk for major adverse health advents.
These findings will hopefully go a long way toward reducing consumers’ concerns about memory and cognition from statins, so they don’t stop taking these life-saving medications.
The lead author of the study is Katherine Samaras, MBBS, Ph.D., an endocrinologist.
The study is published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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