Is statin related to conversion of mild cognitive impairment to dementia?

Abstract Background Although randomized controlled trials have not confirmed cognitive impairing effects of statins, continuing evidence suggests statins have the ability to cause reversible cognitive impairment in some patients. Paradoxically, statins have also been shown to decrease risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and to improve cognitive impairment in some cases. However, randomized controlled trials have similarly failed to find the beneficial effect. We conducted evaluate the effect of statin on the conversion of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to dementia in a Cohort of elderly individuals without functional and cognitive impaiment (NC) and with MCI patients. Method Cohort was reassessed annually by geriatricians and neuropsychologists for an average period of 3.01 ± 1.43 years. The effect of statin on cognition was evaluated when it was in use throughout the follow‐up period and, it was in use at any time during the follow‐up. Chi‐square and Fisher tests (categorical variables) and student t tests, ANOVA, Mann Whiney (continuous variables) were used. Results 176 individuals were selected (53 CG, 111 with amnestic MCI ‐ aMCI‐ and 12 with non‐amnestic MCI ‐naMCI), aged 76.52 ± 7.27 years, 69% female and 3.61 ± 3.23 years of schooling. We observed conversion of aMCI to dementia in 27 participants (92.6% Alzheimer dementia), corresponding to a conversion rate of 24.3%. In the aMCI group, the remission rate was 13.5%. 51.1% of the sample received statin at some point during the follow‐up and 30.7% used it throughout the study. 98.8% of prescribed statins had moderate potency. Comparing stable MCI group throughout the study with the group which progressed to dementia, the group that used it any time during the follow‐up analysis showed a p‐value of 0.104, whereas the group that used it during the entire follow‐up showed a p‐value of 0.166. Comparing remission and conversion groups, the one that used statin any time during the follow‐up showed a p‐value of 0.542, patients who received statin during the entire follow‐up had a p‐value of 0.746. Conclusion Statins were not associated with conversion from aMCI to dementia, even when used throughout the entire follow‐up.