title: Statins and Cognitive Side Effects: What Cardiologists Need to Know.
abstract: Statins are widely used in secondary and primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. They reduce cardiovascular events and mortality, and have an excellent safety record. Recent case reports suggest a possible association between statins and adverse effects on cognition. This article reviews recent literature related to statins and cognition and provides recommendations to clinicians. Cognitive considerations should not play a role in decision making for most patients for whom statins are indicated. Future trials of statin, or any novel antilipemic agent should include systematic assessment of cognition.
authors.affiliation: Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Ageing & School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada; School of Public Health and Health Systems, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada; Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: carlos.rojas-fernandez@uwaterloo.ca.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rojas-Fernandez
authors.affiliation: University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy, 10 Victoria St S, Kitchener, Ontario N2G 1C5, Canada.
authors.forename: Zain
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hudani
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Disease, University of Alabama at Birmingham, LHRB 310, 701 19th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bittner
keywords: Adverse drug effects; Cognition; Drug safety; Iatrogenesis; Memory; Statins