Statins to help older adults stay free of dementia and lasting disability
PRagmatic EValuation of evENTs And Benefits of Lipid-lowering in oldEr Adults (PREVENTABLE)
This project gives people over 75 a statin or a placebo to find out whether lowering cholesterol helps them live longer without dementia or lasting disability.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11179137 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You could join a large, pragmatic trial that randomly gives older adults either a commonly used cholesterol-lowering drug (a statin) or a matching placebo while they continue usual medical care. The study is run through VA sites and the PCORnet network and mostly uses routine health records with some clinic check-ins to limit extra visits. Researchers will follow participants for years to measure whether they remain alive without dementia or persistent disability. The trial aims to include people over 75 with diverse health and social backgrounds to see if statins help or cause harm to thinking and daily function.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults older than 75 without current dementia who are willing to take a daily statin or placebo and participate in follow-up at a VA or participating PCORnet clinic.
Not a fit: People who already have diagnosed dementia, those on long-term statin therapy who cannot stop it, or those unable to attend follow-up visits are unlikely to benefit from joining.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could show whether taking a statin helps people over 75 avoid dementia or long-term disability and guide doctors on when to prescribe them for older adults.
How similar studies have performed: Prior trials show statins lower heart attack risk in people under 75, but evidence for preventing dementia or disability in adults over 75 is limited, so this outcome focus is relatively new.
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.