According to a study published in the July 29 issue of Neurology, investigators from the University of Michigan reported that users of statins (such as Lipitor® or Mevacor®) are approximately half as likely as non-users to develop dementia or cognitive impairment.

Statins are medications that are prescribed to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol or to lower the risk of heart attack in diabetics. In this observational study, the researchers analyzed information from 1674 Mexican-American participants aged 60 years and over who did not have dementia at the beginning of the study. Of these participants, 452 (or, 27%) took statins at some point during the 5-year follow-up period. A total of 130 participants developed Alzheimer's disease or cognitive impairment over the follow-up period. The researchers found that people who had used statins were 44% less likely to develop dementia.

Because this was an observational study, the researchers caution that their results do not mean that people should start using statins with the intention of reducing their dementia risk. In addition, this study looked only at an ethnic group that is at a high risk for diabetes, and these findings do not necessarily apply to the population at large.