Reduced risk of dementia by Statin use ( Statins halved dementia risk in AF patients)

 Two new studies from Taiwan may have somewhat allayed concerns about cognitive dysfunction being a possible side effect of statins.These new data suggest that high-potency statins may reduce the incidence of dementia in patients with atrial fibrillation and in elderly patients. Nevertheless, before we can know for sure that statins may prevent dementia, a clinical trial confirming these findings is mandatory. Results showed an inverse relationship between statin use and dementia, with the risk of dementia reducing with increasing statin dose. This trend remained in different age, gender, and cardiovascular risk subgroups.The adjusted risks for dementia were significantly inversely associated with increased total or daily equivalent statin dosage. Patients who received the highest doses of statins had a threefold decrease in the risk of developing dementia. High-potency statins such as atorvastatin and rosuvastatin [Crestor, AstraZeneca] showed a significant inverse association with developing dementia in a dose-response manner. Higher doses of high-potency statins gave the strongest protective effects against dementia.All the statins except lovastatin were associated with a decreased risk for new-onset dementia when taken at higher daily doses. Lin suggested lovastatin may have shown different results as it has less cholesterol-lowering effect than other statins.Statins halved dementia risk in AF patientsuring a six-year follow-up, 2.1% of the patients taking statins developed dementia compared with 3.5% of the nonstatin group, a statistically significant difference (p=0.002).Other factors that were associated with a reduced risk of dementia included male sex and lower CHADS₂ score. History of MI, peripheral artery disease, coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, and valvular heart disease were not associated with new-onset dementia
For more readings please click here