Background

More people are surviving having a stroke, with a result that the long-term sequelae are growing in importance. One such issue is problems with thinking and memory which may progress to dementia. These cognitive problems are thought to be related to blood lipids and prior atherosclerosis, despite the association not having been well demonstrated. This suggests that lipid-lowering treatments may help prevent dementia after stroke. However, observational studies generated inconsistent results regarding these associations. There have been no randomised controlled trials primarily investigating the effects of any lipid-lowering therapies on cognitive function.

Aims

This project first quantified the possible association of blood lipids on post-stroke cognitive function and dementia after stroke through Mendelian randomisation study using the UK Biobank data and then explored whether prior atherosclerosis and statin use are associated with the risk of post-stroke dementia using the CPRD and its linkage data. This work is relevant to all stroke survivors in the UK and internationally. The results of this study may inform lipids management in clinical practice and future research in this area.

Funder

NIHR School for Primary Care Research
Cambridge Commonwealth, European & International Trust

Project start date and end date

01 October 2016 to present

Contact

PI: Dr Zhirong Yang
Supervisor: Professor Jonathan Mant
Co-Supervisor: Professor Carol Brayne, Dr Stephen Burgess

Publications/Conferences/Posters

Yang Z, Wang H, Edwards D, Ding C, Yan L, Brayne C, Mant J. Association of blood lipids, atherosclerosis and statin use with dementia and cognitive impairment after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ageing Research Reviews 2020;57:100962.

Yang Z, Edwards D, Massou E, Saunders CL, Brayne C, Mant J. Statin use and high-dose statin use after ischemic stroke in the UK:a retrospective cohort study. Clinical Epidemiology 2019;11:495-508.