Statins associated with a 21% increased risk of Alzheimer's

This study was published in the Archives of Neurology 2005 Jul;62(7):1047-51

Study title and authors:
Statin use and the risk of incident dementia: the Cardiovascular Health Study.

Rea TD, Breitner JC, Psaty BM, Fitzpatrick AL, Lopez OL, Newman AB, Hazzard WR, Zandi PP, Burke GL, Lyketsos CG, Bernick C, Kuller LH.
Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle 98101, USA. rea123@u.washington.edu

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16009757

The study investigated the association of statin use and the risk of dementia. Over an average period of 5.3 years, the study analysed 2,798 adults, aged 65 years and older, who were free of dementia at the start of the study.

The study found:
(a) Those who used statins had an 8% increased risk of dementia compared to those who had never used cholesterol lowering drugs.
(b) Those who used statins had an 21% increased risk of Alzheimer's compared to those who had never used cholesterol lowering drugs.



Links to other studies:
Statins may adversely affect cognition in patients with dementia
Statins have a significant negative impact on quality-of-life
Statin use associated with a 60% increased risk of dementia

Statin use associated with a 60% increased risk of dementia

This study was published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience 2014 Nov 7;6:309

Study title and authors:
Cognitive Impairment and Age-Related Vision Disorders: Their Possible Relationship and the Evaluation of the Use of Aspirin and Statins in a 65 Years-and-Over Sardinian Population.

Mandas A, Mereu RM, Catte O, Saba A, Serchisu L, Costaggiu D, Peiretti E, Caminiti G, Vinci M, Casu M, Piludu S, Fossarello M, Manconi PE, Dessí S.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25426067

One of the aims of the study was to establish whether a relationship exist between various types of dementia and statins and aspirin use. The study included 1,168 subjects 65 years or older.

The study found:
(a) Statin users had a 60% increased risk of any type of dementia compared to those not using statins.
(b) Statin users had a 90% increased risk of mild cognitive impairment compared to those not using statins.
(c) Statin users had a 70% increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease compared to those not using statins.
(d) Statin users had a 50% increased risk of mixed dementia compared to those not using statins.
(e) Statin users had a 40% increased risk of vascular dementia compared to those not using statins.
(f) Aspirin users had a 60% increased risk of any type of dementia compared to those not using Aspirin.
(g) Aspirin users had a 60% increased risk of mild cognitive impairment compared to those not using Aspirin.
(h) Aspirin users had a 10% increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease compared to those not using Aspirin.
(i) Aspirin users had a 150% increased risk of mixed dementia compared to those not using Aspirin.
(j) Aspirin users had a 70% increased risk of vascular dementia compared to those not using Aspirin.
(k) Statin and aspirin users had a 110% increased risk of any type of dementia compared to those not using statins and aspirin.
(l) Statin and aspirin users had a 170% increased risk of mild cognitive impairment compared to those not using statins and aspirin.
(m) Statin and aspirin users had a 60% increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease compared to those not using statins and aspirin.
(n) Statin and aspirin users had a 170% increased risk of mixed dementia compared to those not using statins and aspirin.
(o) Statin and aspirin users had a 110% increased risk of vascular dementia compared to those not using statins and aspirin.

The data from the study reveals that compared to statin non-users, statin users have a significantly higher risk of all types of dementia and with Alzheimer’s disease.

Mandas concluded: "Since cholesterol plays a fundamental role in the myelination of neurons, it has been proposed that excessive inhibition of cholesterol synthesis (by statins) could lead to adverse cognitive effects."

Statins have a significant negative impact on quality-of-life

This study was published in Pharmacotherapy 2009 Jul;29(7):800-11

 

Study title and authors:

Statin-associated adverse cognitive effects: survey results from 171 patients.

Evans MA, Golomb BA.

Department of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0995, USA.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19558254

The objective of the study was to characterize the adverse cognitive effects of statins. In the study, a survey was completed by 171 patients (age range 34-86 yrs) who had self-reported memory or other cognitive problems associated with statin therapy.

The study found:
(a) Of 143 patients who reported stopping statin therapy, 128 (90%) reported improvement in cognitive problems, sometimes within days of statin discontinuation.
(b) In some patients, a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer's disease reportedly was reversed.
(c) 19 patients whose symptoms improved or resolved after they discontinued statin therapy and who underwent rechallenge with a statin exhibited cognitive problems again (multiple times in some).
(d) Higher potency statins led to higher rates of cognitive-specific adverse drug reaction.
(e) Quality of life was significantly adversely affected.

Evans concludes: "Findings from the survey suggest that cognitive problems associated with statin therapy have variable onset and recovery courses, a clear relation to statin potency, and significant negative impact on quality-of-life".

Statins may adversely affect cognition in patients with dementia

This study was published in the American Journal of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy 2012 Aug 22

Study title and authors:
The Effect of HMG: CoA Reductase Inhibitors on Cognition in Patients With Alzheimer's Dementia: A Prospective Withdrawal and Rechallenge Pilot Study.

Padala KP, Padala PR, McNeilly DP, Geske JA, Sullivan DH, Potter JF.
Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Central Arkansas Veterans Health Administration System, Little Rock, Arkansas; Reynolds Department of Geriatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22921881

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact statins have on cognition. The study included 18 older subjects with Alzheimer's dementia who were on statin therapy who underwent a 6-week withdrawal phase of statins followed by a 6-week rechallenge with the drug. The primary outcome measure was cognition, measured by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).

The mini–mental state examination (MMSE) or Folstein test is a brief 30-point questionnaire test that is used to screen for cognitive impairment. It is commonly used in medicine to screen for dementia. Any score greater than or equal to 25 points (out of 30) indicates a normal cognition. Below this, scores can indicate severe (less than 9 points), moderate (10-20 points) or mild (21-24 points) cognitive impairment.

The study found:
(a) The subjects had an improvement in MMSE scores with discontinuation of statins and a decrease in MMSE scores after rechallenge.
(b) Cholesterol levels increased with statin discontinuation and decreased with rechallenge.

The head investigator of the study, Dr Kalpana P. Padala from the University of Arkansas, concluded that: "The study found an improvement in cognition with discontinuation of statins and worsening with rechallenge. Statins may adversely affect cognition in patients with dementia".

Statins may be implicated in neurodegenerative diseases

This post includes a summary of a paper published in Neurobiology of Aging 2010 Sep;31(9):1543-53

Study title and authors:
Mevastatin accelerates loss of synaptic proteins and neurite degeneration in aging cortical neurons in a heme-independent manner.

Kannan M, Steinert JR, Forsythe ID, Smith AG, Chernova T.

Books:

MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom.

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18951667

Kannan investigated the effectes of statins on cultured neurons.

The study found:
(a) Statins impaired synaptic proteins.
(b) Statins reduced N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor currents (N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor currents help in memory funcion).
(c) Statins accelerated neurodegeneration associated with aging.

To conclude: Statins exert a neurotoxic effect in cultured neurons and may be implicated in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Amyothrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Multiple Sclerosis and Huntington’s.

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