What does this research mean for the field?

Current statin use is not associated with global cognitive impairment in older adults, indicating that statin therapy should not be withheld due to cognitive concerns. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.SUPPORTS_CONSENSUS.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate the association between current statin use and global cognitive impairment among older adults and examine variations by treatment intensity, duration, and cognitive domains.

September 10, 2026Journal of Internal Medicine

Cognitive safety of statin use in the elderly: Evidence from a nationally representative sample

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Authors

JDJiaying DingSouthwest Medical University JMJianing MiaoSouthwest Medical University LZLing Zhang

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Cross-sectional study finds no association between statin use and global cognitive impairment in older adults, suggesting cardiovascular therapy should not be withheld over cognitive concerns.

Key Points

To evaluate the association between current statin use and global cognitive impairment among older adults and examine variations by treatment intensity, duration, and cognitive domains.
Analyzed data from 3,137 participants aged ≥60 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2014.
Assessed cognitive performance via composite scores across the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease, animal fluency, and digit symbol substitution tests (impairment defined as Z-score < -1.5 standard deviations).
Employed survey-weighted multivariable logistic regression adjusted for sociodemographic, cardiometabolic, and medication covariates, supplemented by inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and multiple imputation.
Current statin use was not associated with global cognitive impairment in the primary fully adjusted model (odds ratio [OR] = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.48–1.67, p = 0.736).
Results remained consistent across psychotropic-adjusted (OR = 0.91), IPTW (OR = 1.03), and multiply imputed models (OR = 0.86).
Statin use was associated with lower odds of impairment on the digit symbol substitution test (OR = 0.51, p = 0.009), with no clear trend across statin intensity or treatment duration.

Cite This Study

Ding et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aa27ab158559d80afc7370a https://doi.org/10.1111/joim.70159

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September 10, 2026Journal of Internal Medicine

Cognitive safety of statin use in the elderly: Evidence from a nationally representative sample

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

JDJiaying DingSouthwest Medical University JMJianing MiaoSouthwest Medical University LZLing Zhang

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Cross-sectional study finds no association between statin use and global cognitive impairment in older adults, suggesting cardiovascular therapy should not be withheld over cognitive concerns.

Key Points

To evaluate the association between current statin use and global cognitive impairment among older adults and examine variations by treatment intensity, duration, and cognitive domains.
Analyzed data from 3,137 participants aged ≥60 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2014.
Assessed cognitive performance via composite scores across the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease, animal fluency, and digit symbol substitution tests (impairment defined as Z-score < -1.5 standard deviations).
Employed survey-weighted multivariable logistic regression adjusted for sociodemographic, cardiometabolic, and medication covariates, supplemented by inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and multiple imputation.
Current statin use was not associated with global cognitive impairment in the primary fully adjusted model (odds ratio [OR] = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.48–1.67, p = 0.736).
Results remained consistent across psychotropic-adjusted (OR = 0.91), IPTW (OR = 1.03), and multiply imputed models (OR = 0.86).
Statin use was associated with lower odds of impairment on the digit symbol substitution test (OR = 0.51, p = 0.009), with no clear trend across statin intensity or treatment duration.

Cite This Study

Ding et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aa27ab158559d80afc7370a https://doi.org/10.1111/joim.70159

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark