Clinical Medicine Insights: Geriatrics

Dementia is a syndrome characterized by a decline in cognitive function. Alzheimer’s disease and cerebro-vascular disease are the most common causes of dementia. Many factors (genetic, life style, vascular etc.) appear to play some role in the development of dementia. Statins significantly reduce vascular disease and could reduce cognitive impairment in later life. Although most cross-sectional and longitudinal studies suggested a lower incidence of dementia in long-term statin users, randomized trials of statins in dementia did not slow disease progression. Furthermore, the effect of statins on cognitive performance is not well understood. Case reports suggest that statins may adversely affect cognition in some individuals, and prospective data studying the effects of statins in cognitively normal individuals is limited. Thus, the effects of statins on cognition in late life, remains uncertain.