THE EFFECTS OF STATINS ON NEUROPSYCHIATRIC SYMPTOMS IN A MEMORY CLINIC COHORT

Abstract

Introduction Previous studies have reported either that statins are protective against dementia or that they increase the risk of cognitive decline. We focus on the effect of statins on dementia-associated neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), rather than cognition. Methods 164 patients referred for cognitive assessment from the St. Michael's Hospital memory clinic were allocated into 4 groups based on statin use: 1= atorvastatin 2= rosuvastatin; 3= nonspecific cholesterol medication; 4= not taking a statin. We then compared cross sectionally their Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) severity scores (total and subdomains scores). All statistical analysis was done on SPSS 25. NPI total severity score, and NPI severity subdomain scores, were tested among the statin groups using Kruskal Wallis test. Chi-squared and Fisher exact tests were used to test the association between gender and education level of statin groups. Results There was no association between gender and statin use (p= 0.537). In addition, there was no association between education level and statin use (p= 0.330). For NPI scores, there was no difference between the groups H(3)= 3.725, p=0.293. Examining the 12 NPI subdomain scores, aberrant motor behavior was significantly different among the statin groups (p= 0.005). Further analysis revealed that taking nonspecific cholesterol medication had the most frequent occurrence of aberrant motor behavior. Conclusions While there was no difference in NPI severity total score between statin groups, the aberrant motor behavior subdomain score was significantly different among the four statin groups, with unspecified statin use associated with higher rates of aberrant motor behavior. This study suggests that statin use in general and type of statin selected may contribute differentially to NPS domains. Further studies in larger cohorts adjusting for dose and comorbities are required to clarify this finding. This research was funded by: N/A Previous studies have reported either that statins are protective against dementia or that they increase the risk of cognitive decline. We focus on the effect of statins on dementia-associated neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), rather than cognition. 164 patients referred for cognitive assessment from the St. Michael's Hospital memory clinic were allocated into 4 groups based on statin use: 1= atorvastatin 2= rosuvastatin; 3= nonspecific cholesterol medication; 4= not taking a statin. We then compared cross sectionally their Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) severity scores (total and subdomains scores). All statistical analysis was done on SPSS 25. NPI total severity score, and NPI severity subdomain scores, were tested among the statin groups using Kruskal Wallis test. Chi-squared and Fisher exact tests were used to test the association between gender and education level of statin groups. There was no association between gender and statin use (p= 0.537). In addition, there was no association between education level and statin use (p= 0.330). For NPI scores, there was no difference between the groups H(3)= 3.725, p=0.293. Examining the 12 NPI subdomain scores, aberrant motor behavior was significantly different among the statin groups (p= 0.005). Further analysis revealed that taking nonspecific cholesterol medication had the most frequent occurrence of aberrant motor behavior. While there was no difference in NPI severity total score between statin groups, the aberrant motor behavior subdomain score was significantly different among the four statin groups, with unspecified statin use associated with higher rates of aberrant motor behavior. This study suggests that statin use in general and type of statin selected may contribute differentially to NPS domains. Further studies in larger cohorts adjusting for dose and comorbities are required to clarify this finding.