Effects of Statins on Memory, Cognition, and Brain Volume in the Elderly
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Author + information
- Katherine Samaras, MBBS, PhDa,b,c,∗ (k.samaras{at}garvan.org.au), @GarvanInstitute,
- Steve R. Makkar, PhDd,
- John D. Crawford, PhDd,
- Nicole A. Kochan, MSc, PhDd,
- Melissa J. Slavin, MSc, PhDd,
- Wei Wen, PhDd,
- Julian N. Trollor, MBBS, PhDd,e,
- Henry Brodaty, MBBS, MDd,f and
- Perminder S. Sachdev, MBBS, PhDd,f,g
- aDepartment of Endocrinology, St. Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- bDiabetes and Metabolism, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- cSt. Vincent’s Clinical School, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- dCentre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- eDepartment of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- fDementia Collaborative Research Centre, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- gNeuropsychiatric Institute, Euroa Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- ↵∗Address for correspondence:
Prof. Katherine Samaras, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, 384 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, New South Wales 2010, Australia.
Central Illustration
Abstract
Background There is widespread consumer concern that statin use may be associated with impaired memory and cognitive decline.
Objectives This study sought to examine the association between statin use and changes in memory and global cognition in the elderly population over 6 years and brain volumes over 2 years. Interactions between statin use and known dementia risk factors were examined.
Methods Prospective observational study of community-dwelling elderly Australians age 70 to 90 years (the MAS [Sydney Memory and Ageing Study], n = 1,037). Outcome measures were memory and global cognition (by neuropsychological testing every 2 years) and total brain, hippocampal and parahippocampal volumes (by magnetic resonance) in a subgroup (n = 526). Analyses applied linear mixed modeling, including the covariates of age, sex, education, body mass index, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, smoking, and apolipoprotein Eε4 carriage. Interactions were sought between statin use and dementia risk factors.
Results Over 6 years there was no difference in the rate of decline in memory or global cognition between statin users and never users. Statin initiation during the observation period was associated with blunting the rate of memory decline. Exploratory analyses found statin use was associated with attenuated decline in specific memory test performance in participants with heart disease and apolipoprotein Eε4 carriage. There was no difference in brain volume changes between statin users and never users.
Conclusions In community-dwelling elderly Australians, statin therapy was not associated with any greater decline in memory or cognition over 6 years. These data are reassuring for consumers concerned about statin use and risk of memory decline.
Footnotes
This study was supported by the Australian Government's National Health and Medical Research Council (Dementia Research Grant 510124). Dr. Brodaty has served on the Nutricia Australia Advisory Board. Dr. Sachdev has served on the Australian Advisory Board of Biogen. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose.
Listen to this manuscript's audio summary by Editor-in-Chief Dr. Valentin Fuster on JACC.org.
- Received May 22, 2019.
- Revision received August 29, 2019.
- Accepted September 9, 2019.
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