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."

13 year study of nearly one million individuals shows that statins significantly increase the risk of shingles in older people

This study was published in Clinical Infectious Disease 2013 Nov 13

Study title and authors:
Statins and the risk of herpes zoster: a population-based cohort study.

Antoniou T, Zheng H, Singh S, Juurlink DN, Mamdani MM, Gomes T.
Department of Family and Community Medicine, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24235264

This study examined the association between statin use and incidence of herpes zoster (shingles). The study included 494,651 individuals treated with a statin and an equal number of untreated individuals. The participants were aged 66 years of age or older and the study lasted for 13 years.

The study found:
(a) Those who used statins had a 13% increased risk of shingles compared to nonusers.
(b) Those who used statins had a 4% increased risk of knee arthroplasty compared to nonusers. (Knee arthroplasty involves replacing a damaged, worn or diseased knee with an artificial joint).

This 13 year study of nearly one million individuals shows that statins significantly increase the risk of shingles in older people.

Medical researchers conclude that simvastatin should not be used as treatment for multiple sclerosis

This study was published in Lancet Neurology 2011 Aug;10(8):691-701

Study title and authors:
Simvastatin as add-on therapy to interferon β-1a for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (SIMCOMBIN study): a placebo-controlled randomised phase 4 trial.

Sorensen PS, Lycke J, Erälinna JP, Edland A, Wu X, Frederiksen JL, Oturai A, Malmeström C, Stenager E, Sellebjerg F, Sondergaard HB

Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark. pss@rh.dk

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21742556

This study investigated the effects of statins in patients relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis who were receiving the multiple sclerosis drug interferon beta. The three year study was a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomised, parallel-group trial and included 307 patients who received either simvastatin or placebo.

The study found:
(a) Patients in the simvastatin group had a 39% higher risk of relapse compared to patients in the placebo group.
(b) Patients in the simvastatin group had their first relapse 3.4 months earlier than patients in the placebo group.
(c) Patients in the simvastatin group had a 17% higher risk of new or enlarging lesions compared to patients in the placebo group.
(d) Patients in the simvastatin group had a 58% reduced chance of having no disease activity compared to patients in the placebo group.

The researchers concluded: "The combination of interferon beta and simvastatin should not be used as treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis".

Out for Two Weeks

I'll be out of town with limited internet until September 27th.  Feel free to leave comments, but I won't be able to moderate them until I return.  Sorry for the inconvenience!

Statins do not prevent cardiovascular and all-cause deaths

This paper was published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology Volume 7, Issue 3 , Pages 222-224, May 2013
 
Study title and authors:
Point: Why statins have failed to reduce mortality in just about anybody
Eddie Vos, Colin P. Rose, Pierre Biron
127 Courser Road, Sutton, QC, Canada J0E 2K0

Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada H3H 1V6

 

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.lipidjournal.com/article/S1933-2874(13)00052-4/abstract

 

This paper reviewed the scientific evidence regarding statins and death rates.

 

(i) In JUPITER (Justification for the Use of Statins in Primary Prevention: An Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin trial), a trial involving 17,802 participants randomised to rosuvastatin or placebo found for all participants the cardiovascular mortality was not reduced.

(ii) All published trials with placebo controls conclusively establish that statins do not reduce mortality in women.

(iii) There are no mortality figures suggesting a positive effect for people taking statins for more than five or six years.

(iv) In the PROSPER (PROspective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk) study, in patients older than 70 years of age, there appeared to be arising increased rate of cancer, which may indicate that longer intervals of statin therapy may have other costs in the elderly.

(v) For both genders, the lack of all-cause mortality benefit is also illustrated by all published studies using atorvastatin vs. placebo, including the summary of 49 in-house studies including 14,236 individual patients.

(vi) The secondary prevention study SPARCL (Stroke Prevention by Aggressive Reduction in Cholesterol Levels) ended with five more deaths on highdose atorvastatin than on placebo.

(vii) To date, there are no placebo-controlled studies showing a mortality benefit when patients used lovastatin, fluvastatin, cerivastatin, or pitavastatin.

(viii) No mortality benefit from statins has ever been shown in patients older than 70 years of age.

(ix) No mortality benefit from statins has ever been shown in patients with heart failure.

(x) No mortality benefit from statins has ever been shown in patients with kidney failure.

(xi) Patients believing consciously or subliminally that ‘‘their cholesterol is under control’’ because they take a statin may postpone embarking on lifestyle changes, such as stopping smoking and abandoning eating habits that produce obesity and diabetes.

(xii) There is evidence that statins themselves promote diabetes, a life-long health risk.

 

Vos advises: "Because the lack of circulating statins is not the cause of atherosclerosis and their benefit on mortality is highly questionable, we should concentrate on lifestyle changes. Exercise, no smoking, and a healthy diet are well demonstrated in population studies to reduce the high mortality seen in so many economically developed countries".

 

He concludes that statins: "do not prevent cardiovascular and all-cause deaths".

 



Statin use associated with increased risk of prostate cancer

This study was published in Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases 2005;8(4):316-20

Study title and authors:
Hypertriglyceridemia as a possible risk factor for prostate cancer.

Wuermli L, Joerger M, Henz S, Schmid HP, Riesen WF, Thomas G, Krek W, Cerny T, Gillessen S.
Department of Internal Medicine, Kantonsspital St.Gallen, Switzerland.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16158078

This study assessed various factors in patients with prostate cancer and compared them with patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. (Benign prostatic hyperplasia is an increase in size of the prostate gland without malignancy present and it is so common as to be normal with advancing age). The study included 504 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer and 565 age-matched patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Regarding statins, the study found that statin usage was 23% higher in the patients that had developed prostate cancer compared to the patients with an enlarged prostate.

Statins increase the risk of angina by 15% in patients receiving angioplasty treatment

This study was published in Heart 2004 Apr;90(4):448-9

 

Study title and authors:

Effect of statin treatment on coronary collateral flow in patients with coronary artery disease.

Zbinden S, Brunner N, Wustmann K, Billinger M, Meier B, Seiler C.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15020529

 

Collateral blood vessels are small capillary-like branches of an artery that form over time in response to narrowed coronary arteries. The collaterals "bypass" the area of narrowing and help to restore blood flow.

 

A coronary angioplasty is a procedure used to widen blocked or narrowed coronary arteries. A short wire-mesh tube, called a stent, is inserted into an artery to allow blood to flow more freely through it.

A balloon occlusion test is a way to see whether one artery can be temporarily or permanently blocked without significantly affecting the level of blood in your brain. The procedure utilizes an X-ray and a special dye to create detailed images of your arteries and a small balloon, which when inflated will temporarily block your artery.

 

This study investigated the influence of statins on the formation of collateral arteries in patients with coronary artery disease undergoing coronary angioplasty. The study included 500 patients who had their collateral blood vessels assessed whilst undergoing angioplasty.

 

The study found:

(a) Measurement by electrocardiogram revealed patients taking statins had a 14% increased risk of insufficient collateral arteries compared to patients not taking statins.

(b) Patients taking statins had a 15% increased risk of suffering angina during a balloon occlusion test compared to patients not taking statins.