Lowering dementia and disability risk with a moderate-dose statin for people 75+
PREVENTABLE Trial Implementation Phase
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · DUKE UNIVERSITY · NIH-11179181
This project will see whether taking a moderate-strength statin helps people aged 75 and older avoid dementia and stay free of disability.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | DUKE UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (DURHAM, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11179181 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would be part of a large pragmatic effort enrolling about 20,000 community-dwelling adults aged 75 or older who do not have dementia or known atherosclerotic coronary heart disease. Participants receive a moderate-intensity statin and are followed over time to track new dementia, mild cognitive impairment, disability-free survival, and major cardiovascular events. The team will monitor side effects and tolerability using participant reports and standard tools such as the SAMS-CI, and will record reasons for stopping the medication. Trial operations are led from Duke and designed to simplify enrollment, medication delivery, and outcome tracking across participating sites.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are community-dwelling adults aged 75 or older without existing dementia or known atherosclerotic coronary heart disease who can take a statin.
Not a fit: People who already have dementia, who have established coronary heart disease, or who cannot tolerate statins are unlikely to benefit from this trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reduce new dementia and help older adults live independently longer.
How similar studies have performed: Previous smaller trials and observational studies have shown mixed results for statins preventing cognitive decline, so this large randomized, pragmatic effort is relatively new and needed.
Where this research is happening
DURHAM, UNITED STATES
- DUKE UNIVERSITY — DURHAM, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: ALEXANDER, KAREN P — DUKE UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: ALEXANDER, KAREN P
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions: Alzheimer disease dementia, Alzheimer syndrome, Alzheimer's Disease