Presbyterian Hospital - Weill Cornell Medical Center, is quoted as saying that the statin drug Lipitor "makes women
stupid." Dr. Etingin was referring to several cases she has personally seen in which patients taking statins (her patients are apparently all women) found themselves unable to concentrate, remember words, or otherwise experienced
a cognitive deficit. The deficits went away when the statin was stopped, according to Dr. Etingin.
This is not the first time statins have been implicated in memory loss, and the question of whether statins produce
this side effect has been studied several times, although imperfectly. The verdict so far? The evidence is conflicting, and the question is unsettled. The latest clinical study examining whether statins are associated with cognitive deficits was published in the journal Neurology, and no such association was found in 1,000 patients taking statins.
While Dr. Etingin might have used less inflammatory language in describing this potential problem, one can
sympathize with her frustration. She is certain she's seen memory deficits caused by statins, but clinical trials have
failed to confirm that statins can do this. As a result, the potential of statin-induced memory problems is not even
on the radar of most doctors. If her aim was to finally focus attention on the issue, one would have to say she
has succeeded quite nicely.
But do statins really cause memory deficits? Unfortunately, we are stuck with the same answer we hear all too often -- more studies are needed.
DrRich Comments:
While we wait for the proverbial "more studies," what should doctors and patients do about the possibility that statins can produce memory deficits?
First, keep in mind that even if it turns out that statins can cause this problem, the incidence appears to be quite low, and apparently the problem is reversible. That is, it goes away if statins are stopped.
Second, add the potential for memory deficits to the list of reasons you shouldn't take statins (or any other drug)
unless there's a good reason to. This article outlines the situations in which statin therapy is particularly important
in preventing heart attacks and early death.
Third, if you or a loved one are taking statins and notice some change in cognitive ability, bring it to the attention
of your doctor. Remind him or her that there's at least a possibility that the statins may be involved.
Fourth, remember that there are scores of things that can produce memory deficits, and even if it turns out statins
can cause this problem, it's likely that most patients who experience memory problems while taking statins will have
one of these other causes. This, indeed, is likely why it has been so difficult to "prove" an association between
cognitive problems and statins.
Finally, don't stop taking your statins for any reason without talking to your doctor.
There is a small increase in the incidence of type II diabetes seen in some trials.
However, memory loss was not seen in all the trials, yet FDA added memory loss
in the warning because of some anectdotal instances where memory loss occurred and
reversed to normal once statin was stopped.
Cardiology community has been aware of these, but has not changed their ways of prescribing statins
because of these because the benefits far outweigh the risk.