Simvastatin and Reduced Risk of Dementia and Parkinson's Disease
Author Information
Author(s): Benjamin Wolozin, Stanley W Wang, Nien-Chen Li, Austin Lee, Todd A Lee, Lewis E Kazis
Primary Institution: Boston University School of Medicine
Hypothesis
Some statins might be differentially associated with a reduction in the incidence of dementia and Parkinson's disease.
Conclusion
Simvastatin is associated with a strong reduction in the incidence of dementia and Parkinson's disease, while atorvastatin shows only a modest reduction.
Supporting Evidence
- Simvastatin users showed a significant reduction in dementia incidence compared to non-statin users.
- Atorvastatin showed a modest reduction in dementia incidence that was not statistically significant.
- Simvastatin was also associated with a reduced incidence of newly acquired Parkinson's disease.
Takeaway
Taking simvastatin might help older people avoid getting dementia and Parkinson's disease.
Methodology
Data from the US Veterans Affairs database was analyzed using Cox proportional hazard models to compare statin users with non-statin cardiovascular medication users.
Potential Biases
Potential confounding by indication and misdiagnosis of dementia.
Limitations
The study relies on diagnostic codes which may not be rigorously controlled, and the accuracy of dementia diagnoses can vary.
Participant Demographics
Subjects were primarily male (94.4%) and aged 65 years or older.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.0001
Confidence Interval
0.44–0.48
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website