Alzheimer disease: Statins in the treatment of Alzheimer disease.

摘要

A recent clinical trial showed no beneficial effects of statin treatment in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) and normal cholesterol levels. Other studies show that the effects of statins can vary depending on cholesterol levels and stage of disease, so statins should not be ruled out as an AD therapy.Evidence obtained from in vitro studies and some clinical trials has suggested that a reduction in cholesterol levels could be beneficial in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD). The Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study has investigated the therapeutic effects of simvastatin-a cholesterol-lowering drug-in the treatment of mild to moderate AD.As reported by Sano et al. in Neurology, no evidence was found of either benefit or harm to patients with AD who were treated with simvastatin for 18 months, compared with those who were administered placebo treatment.