Statins For The Prevention Of Dementia

Main Category: Statins
Also Included In: Alzheimer's / Dementia
Article Date: 16 Apr 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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This is an update of a Cochrane review first published in 2001. At that stage there was insufficient evidence to recommend statins for the prevention of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The scope of this review has been expanded to include all forms of dementia.

Extract from Implications for Practice

There is good evidence that statins given in late life to individuals at risk of vascular disease have no effect in preventing Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Inclusion of statins for this indication on national or local formularies is not currently warranted. For patients with an elevated cholesterol level, the decision to treat is made much easier because statins reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease. The challenge comes from patients with normal cholesterol. From the identified studies there is no convincing evidence to support their use for dementia prevention in populations at low vascular risk.

(CD003160) by McGuinness et al

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Source
The Cochrane Library

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