Recruiting and keeping older adults in a statin program to help prevent dementia

PREVENTABLE Recruitment and Retention

NIH-funded research Duke University · NIH-11179157

This project is testing whether a moderate-dose statin can help people aged 75 and older stay free of dementia and live longer without disability.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionDuke University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Durham, United States)
Project IDNIH-11179157 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would be invited to join a large national effort that randomizes 20,000 people aged 75 and up to receive a moderate-intensity statin or usual care. The team is focused on making it easier for older adults—including very old people, those with frailty, limited mobility, mild cognitive problems, and multiple health conditions—to join and stay in the effort. They will use tailored recruitment and retention strategies to reach women, racial and ethnic minorities, and people across most U.S. regions. The core work includes simplifying consent, reducing visit burdens, addressing transportation and caregiver concerns, and engaging clinicians to support referrals.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 75 or older without known coronary heart disease who can attend local study visits and are willing to try a moderate-intensity statin or usual care.

Not a fit: People younger than 75, those with existing clinically evident coronary heart disease, or those unable to participate in follow-up visits are unlikely to be eligible or benefit from this trial.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could show a widely available medicine helps prevent dementia and prolongs disability-free life in people over 75.

How similar studies have performed: Observational studies and smaller trials have produced mixed results about statins and cognition, so this very large randomized effort addresses an important unanswered question.

Where this research is happening

Durham, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Alzheimer disease dementiaAlzheimer syndromeAlzheimer's Disease
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.