Using Statins Do Not Affect the Risk of Developing Alzheimer's

Dr. Zoe Arvanitakis and colleagues, from Rush University Medical Center, reported in a new study (published in the medical journal Neurology) that statins do not affect the probability of developing the Alzheimer's disease.

In fact a 12-year study showed that people who had taken the cholesterol lowering statins had the same risk of developing Alzheimer's than those who did not use the medication. The study evaluated the effect of taking statins on Alzheimer's disease, the change in global cognition, and five separate cognitive areas.

Statins are a type of drugs taken to lower cholesterol levels in people with or at risk of cardiovascular disease. They inhibit certain specific enzyme that results in a decrease of the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol from the bloodstream.

Dr. Arvanitakis' and colleagues undertook this study because the effect of statins of the Alzheimer's disease is not clear and different studies show conflicting results. The research teak was allowed to enroll more than 900 participants in their study from 1994 to 2006.

Participants were evaluated clinically at least once a year for dementia, or cognitive decline and symptoms of the Alzheimer's disease. Some of the participants used statins while others not.

Researchers used 19 tests to evaluate overall cognitive status including memory recall, semantic memory, working memory, and spatial ability. If participants died during their study they were subjected to a brain autopsy to asses the presence of Alzheimer's disease, including neuritic plaques, diffuse plaques (these are characteristic signs of Alzheimer patients)

More specifically the study found:

* Statin use was not association with level of cognitive ability

* Statin use was not related to dementia development

* During the study more than 260 brain autopsies were made revealing that almost all the deceased had sign of Alzheimer's pathology but the pathology was similar between people who took and did not take statins