Lipid-lowering agents and the risk of cognitive impairment that does not meet criteria for dementia, in relation to apolipoprotein E status

Abstract

Lipid-lowering agents (LLAs) might lower the risk of dementia, but any impact on other forms of cognitive impairment is not clear. We examined LLAs in relation to cognitive impairment, no dementia (CIND) and apolipoprotein E4 status. In a case control study from the Canadian Study of Health and Aging, cases (n = 347) had developed CIND between the first and second study waves and controls (n = 693) had no cognitive impairment at either time. LLA use was associated with a lower odds of incident CIND in those <80 years of age (OR 0.37; 95% CI 0.15-0.93) but not for those aged >or=80 years (OR 0.56; 95% CI 0.15-2.10). The reduced risk was significant for statins but not for other LLAs. Adjusting for apolipoprotein E4 status did not change the point estimates of the ORs. The greatest impact of LLAs was seen in the CIND subtype circumscribed memory impairment.