Examination of the FDA Warning for Statins and Cognitive Dysfunction

Abstract

Background: The ACC/AHA released new guidelines in December of 2013 for treatment of high blood cholesterol to simplify identification and treatment of patients most likely to benefit from statins. These guidelines may result in more patients receiving statin therapy, and at younger ages. In 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandated warnings for all statin drugs for possible adverse effects on cognitive performance. Statins can be classified as having greater lipophilic or hydrophilic solubility properties with lipophilic statins more readily crossing the blood brain barrier, and possibly differentially inducing detrimental cognitive effects.