Statins May Influence Cognition in Alzheimer's Disease, Researchers Discover

Strategic Insights -

Research conducted at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, has found that statins, a type of cholesterol-lowering medication, may influence cognition in patients with Alzheimer's disease. The study, which analyzed data from the Swedish Registry for Dementia and Cognitive Disorders (SveDem) and Stockholm Creatinine Measurements (SCREAM) from 2007 to 2018, found that patients using statins, particularly simvastatin, had higher cognitive scores at diagnosis compared to non-users.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study included 3074 Alzheimer's disease patients, of whom 1028 used statins, with 79.6% using simvastatin and 20.4% using atorvastatin.
  • Patients with diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, or stroke had greater odds of receiving statins.
  • Older patients had slightly lower odds of receiving any statin at baseline, while simvastatin users had 0.53 points higher MMSE scores on average compared to non-users of statins.
  • Younger AD patients and those with cardiovascular disease were more likely to use statins.
  • Simvastatin use was linked to higher cognitive scores at diagnosis, while higher LDL-C, TC, and HDL-C levels were associated with better baseline cognitive scores in non-users.
  • Longitudinal studies are needed to investigate the effects of statins on cognitive decline in AD.

Statistics:

  • 3074 AD patients were included in the study.
  • 1028 patients used statins, with 79.6% using simvastatin.
  • Simvastatin users had 0.53 points higher MMSE scores on average compared to non-users of statins.
  • Patients with diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, or stroke had a 1.98 times increase in odds of receiving statins.
  • Older patients had a 98% decrease in odds of receiving any statin at baseline.
  • Higher LDL-C, TC, and HDL-C levels were associated with a 0.23 point increase in MMSE scores for every unit increase.

Sources:

  • Statins, cholesterol and cognition at the time of Alzheimer's disease diagnosis: A cross-sectional study from the Swedish registry for cognitive/dementia disorders. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease Reports, 2025;9:25424823251385903
  • NewsRx. Findings from Karolinska Institute Provide New Insights into Alzheimer Disease (Statins, cholesterol and cognition at the time of Alzheimer's disease diagnosis: A cross-sectional study from the Swedish registry for cognitive/dementia disorders). Mental Health Weekly Digest. October 20, 2025; p 265.