Abstract

Tze Jian Chin, Cassandra Szoeke*, Alexandra Gorelik and Ying Tan

ABSTRACT

Objective: Although statins are known as the first line of cholesterol treatment, how statins will affect cognition over time is not well understood and the literature is scattered. At the same time, one in three women will develop dementia in their lifetime. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the longitudinal prospective of statin use from 1992-2012 and cognitive function in healthy Australian women, and determine whether statin dose, type and duration of use modify this relationship on final time point in 2012. Methods: 240 women (average age 70.03) from the WHAP study, were included in this analysis. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Statin use was recorded across two decades. Results: Adjusted MMSE score for current statins users were significantly lower when compare to non-users (p = 0.009). Those recently commencing a statin (treatment for 1-4 years) were more likely to be in the low performing group for global cognition. We also found users with inconsistent dosages (dose or type switching) had lower adjusted MMSE score compared to non-users (p = 0.033). Non-consistent or newly initiated use of statins resulted in reduced cognition while compared to persistent long-term use or no use at all (p = 0.012). Interpretation: We observed that independent of underlying vascular risk, current statin users, initiation of statin use by women (1-4 years of use) was associated with the greatest deterioration in MMSE. This effect is not simply reflective of the lipid levels in the women.