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Published on: November 10, 2017
Statins and Cognitive Side Effects: What Cardiologists Need to Know
Carlos Rojas-Fernandez1, Zain Hudani2, Vera Bittner3
1Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Ageing & School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada; School of Public Health and Health Systems, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada; Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Statins effectively prevent cardiovascular disease with a good safety profile. While some reports suggest cognitive side effects, current evidence indicates they should not deter statin use for most patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Statins are primary and secondary prevention agents for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
- They significantly reduce cardiovascular events and mortality.
- Statins are generally considered safe, but recent reports link them to cognitive adverse effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current literature on statins and cognitive function.
- To provide clinical recommendations regarding statin use and cognition.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies on statins and cognition.
- Analysis of case reports and clinical trial data.
Main Results:
- Most evidence does not support a significant negative impact of statins on cognition.
- Cognitive concerns are not a primary reason to withhold statin therapy for indicated patients.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive effects should not generally influence the decision to prescribe statins.
- Future clinical trials should incorporate systematic cognitive assessments for lipid-lowering agents.
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