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Pravastatin and cognitive function in the elderly. Results of the PROSPER study

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Abstract

Observational studies have given conflicting results about the effect of statins in preventing dementia and cognitive decline. Moreover, observational studies are subject to prescription bias, making it hard to draw definite conclusions from them. Randomized controlled trials are therefore the preferred study design to investigate the association between statins and cognition. Here we present detailed cognitive outcomes from the randomized placebo-controlled PROspective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk (PROSPER). Cognitive function was assessed repeatedly in all 5,804 PROSPER participants at six different time points during the study using four neuropsychological performance tests. After a mean follow-up period of 42 months, no difference in cognitive decline at any of the cognitive domains was found in subjects treated with pravastatin compared to placebo (all p > 0.05). Pravastatin treatment in old age did not affect cognitive decline during a 3 year follow-up period. Employing statin therapy in the elderly in an attempt to prevent cognitive decline therefore seems to be futile.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by an investigator initiated grant from Bristol-Myers Squibb, USA. Prof. Dr. J.W. Jukema is an Established Clinical Investigator of the Netherlands Heart Foundation (2001 D 032). Prof. R.G.J. Westendorp is supported by an unrestricted grant from the Netherlands Genomics Initiative (NCHA 050-060-810).

Conflict of interest statements

The authors declare the following arrangements with the sponsoring company or other companies, or both, making competing products. Consultancy agreements: J. Shepherd, M. B. Murphy, I. Ford, B. M. Buckley, J. W. Jukema, C. J. Packard. Research support, honoraria, travel grants: J. Shepherd, G. J. Blauw, M. B. Murphy, E. L. E. M. Bollen, B. M. Buckley, I. Ford, J. W. Jukema, P. W. Macfarlane, C. J. Packard, D. J. Stott, R. G. J. Westendorp.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, C-2-R, Leiden University Medical Center, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Stella Trompet, Peter van Vliet, Anton J. M. de Craen, Gerard J. Blauw & Rudi G. J. Westendorp

  2. Department of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Stella Trompet & J. Wouter Jukema

  3. Department of Special Education, Faculty of Psychology and Education, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Jelle Jolles

  4. Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland

    Brendan M. Buckley & Michael B. Murphy

  5. Robertson Centre for Biostatistics, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland

    Ian Ford

  6. Division of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland

    Peter W. Macfarlane

  7. BHF Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland

    Naveed Sattar

  8. Department of Vascular Biochemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland

    Chris J. Packard & Jim Shepherd

  9. Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland

    David J. Stott

  10. Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Eduard L. E. M. Bollen

  11. Durrer Center for Cardiogenetic Research, Interuniversity Cardiology Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    J. Wouter Jukema

  12. Netherlands Consortium for Healthy Ageing, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Rudi G. J. Westendorp

Authors
  1. Stella Trompet
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  2. Peter van Vliet
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  3. Anton J. M. de Craen
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  4. Jelle Jolles
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  5. Brendan M. Buckley
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  6. Michael B. Murphy
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  7. Ian Ford
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  8. Peter W. Macfarlane
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  9. Naveed Sattar
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  10. Chris J. Packard
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  11. David J. Stott
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  12. Jim Shepherd
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  13. Eduard L. E. M. Bollen
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  14. Gerard J. Blauw
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  15. J. Wouter Jukema
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  16. Rudi G. J. Westendorp
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stella Trompet.

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Trompet, S., van Vliet, P., de Craen, A.J.M. et al. Pravastatin and cognitive function in the elderly. Results of the PROSPER study. J Neurol 257, 85–90 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-009-5271-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-009-5271-7

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