Can Statins Prevent Dementia?

A study of nearly 58,000 patients found that high potency statins had the strongest protective effects against dementia. +Alzheimer's Reading Room High doses of statins prevent dementia in older people, according to research presented at the European Society of Cardiogists by Dr Tin-Tse Lin from Taiwan. The study of nearly 58,000 patients found that high potency statins had the strongest protective effects against dementia. “Statins are widely used in the older population to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. But recent reports of statin-associated cognitive impairment have led the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to list statin-induced cognitive changes, especially for the older population, in its safety communications.” Subscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading Room Email: High dose statins prevent dementia The Gist Previous studies had considered statin therapy to exert a beneficial effect on dementia. But few large-scale studies have focused on the impact of statins on new-onset, non-vascular dementia in the geriatric population. The current study examined whether statin use was associated with new diagnoses of dementia. The researchers used a random sample of 1 million patients covered by Taiwan’s National Health Insurance. They identified 57,669 patients aged >65 years who had no history of dementia in 1997 and 1998. The analysis included pre-senile and senile dementia but excluded vascular dementia. _________________________...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - Category: Dementia Authors: Source Type: blogs