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."