Statins give no dementia protection

SEATTLE, Jul 11, 2005 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Use of statins and other cholesterol-lowering drugs by older adults reportedly offers no protection against Alzheimer's disease or other dementia.

Dr. Thomas Rea of the University of Washington and co-researchers assessed data on 2,798 participants 65 years or older in the Cardiovascular Health Study. Participants underwent tests to determine they were free of dementia when enrolled in the study between 1991 and 1994.

Baseline information on health status, cognitive function and medication use was collected and they were examined annually to assess health status, medication use and whether they developed dementia.

There were 480 cases of dementia, including 245 attributable to Alzheimer's disease.

After controlling for known or suspected risk factors, the researchers found patients who used lipid-lowering statins had no reduction risk of developing dementia.

The findings appear in the July issue of Archives of Neurology.