Statins have no impact on cognition, according to new meta-analysis

A new meta-analysis shows that treatment with statins has no negative impact on cognition. The study reviewed medical literature, including the 17,802-person Jupiter study in which dementia was observed in 12 (0.1%) of patients on Crestor (rosuvastatin), from AstraZeneca, compared with 9 (0.1%) of patients on placebo. Similarily in the 20,536-patient Heart Protection Study, 31 patients developed dementia in each of the 2 groups: those taking simvastatin or those on placebo.

Overall, the preliminary meta-analyses of cognitive test data showed no significant effects on global cognition or on specific cognitive domains for subjects with normal cognition as well as those with Alzheimer�s disease. The study was carried out by Brian Ott, MD, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island and presented at the 2013 Annual Alzheimer�s Association Conference.