Association of statin use with reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease: findings in UK Biobank

Background Previous studies on the association between statin use and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have yielded inconsistent results. This study, based on the large-scale UK Biobank cohort, evaluates the relationship between statin use and the risk of new-onset AD, survival in patients with AD, and cognitive function. Methods This study included 502,401 participants with a median follow-up of 9.24 years. The association between statin use and the risk of AD was analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models, logistic regression, and propensity score matching. The robustness of the results was assessed through internal validation using training and validation groups, as well as subgroup analyses. Results A total of 975 new cases of AD were recorded. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that statin use was associated with a reduced risk of AD (HR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.52–0.98; p < 0.05), and the results remained consistent after propensity score matching ( p < 0.05). Among individuals aged ≥65 years, statin users demonstrated better cognitive performance than non-users. Concomitant use of antihypertensive or antidiabetic medications did not significantly alter the protective effect of statins. Conclusion Statin use was associated with a modestly lower risk of AD and slower cognitive decline. These findings highlight the importance of enhanced clinical awareness in identifying AD patients and those at risk of adverse outcomes.