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Statins and Dementia
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In the article by Wolozin and colleagues,1
use of "statin" cholesterol-lowering drugs is observationally associated with
lower rates of Alzheimer disease (AD). Haley and Dietschy,2
in the accompanying editorial, make the vitally important point that causality
cannot be affirmed with certainty due to indication bias.
But an even stronger point can be made: These data are consistent with
and indeed can be taken to support the contrary conclusion—that high
cholesterol protects against dementia. Lipid-lowering drugs are used in the
context of—and may serve statistically as a marker for—elevated
cholesterol. Just as higher stroke risk occurs in those on antihypertensives,
and increased diabetic complications in those taking hypoglycemic medications,
so statin use may appear to be linked to improved cognition precisely because
high cholesterol confers protection, and those on statins may (before treatment
and often despite treatment) have higher cholesterol levels on average.
Three pieces of evidence fuel this perspective. First, . . . [Full Text of this Article]
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
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STATIN THERAPY IS ASSOCIATED WITH REDUCED NEUROPATHOLOGIC CHANGES OF ALZHEIMER DISEASE
Golomb et al.
Neurology 2008;70:2349-2330.
FULL TEXT
Lipid lowering agents are associated with a slower cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease
Masse et al.
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry 2005;76:1624-1629.
ABSTRACT
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Conceptual Foundations of the UCSD Statin Study: A Randomized Controlled Trial Assessing the Impact of Statins on Cognition, Behavior, and Biochemistry
Golomb et al.
Arch Intern Med 2004;164:153-162.
ABSTRACT
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Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of High Cholesterol
Feeman et al.
JAMA 2001;286:2400-2402.
FULL TEXT
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