Controversies over Statins-related Cognitive Impairment

The US FDA in 2012 released a safety announcement of risk of cognitive impairment with statin use. However, because this probable adverse event is conflicting with findings of several studies that demonstrate a potential benefit on cognition with the use of statins, we thought to do further analysis to clear the confusion. Reports of statin-associated cognitive impairment were found principally in few observational studies (e.g., case reports/series) and occasionally in few randomised trials. On the contrary, in the majority of observational studies and randomized controlled clinical trials, statins were found to have either a no effects or rather beneficial effect on cognition. However, should it happens, switching from lipophilic to hydrophilic statins such as Rosuvastatin may resolve this issue of cognitive impairment. Therefore, in spite of some concerns of cognitive impairment with statins, the current evidences do not favour the changing practice with respect to statin use, though one needs to be vigilant and address efficiently if it occurs at all.