Study: Statins May Be Effective Against Alzheimer's

Cholesterol-lowering statin drugs lower brain cholesterol by more than one-fifth and could potentially be beneficial in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, according to a study reported in the April 21 issue of Archives of Neurology.

Brain cholesterol is involved in the formation of amyloid plaques, the waxy buildups that harms brain cells and predicts Alzheimer's disease. The study suggests that reducing cholesterol in the brain also can reduce plaque formation, thereby potentially reducing the severity of Alzheimer's disease.

"We've shown that you can take people with Alzheimer's disease, with normal cholesterol levels, and reduce the amount of cholesterol that their brain produces without any adverse side effects," said study co-author Dr. Myron Weiner, vice chairman of clinical services in psychiatry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

The study involved 44 Alzheimer's patients who did not have cardiovascular disease. The participants either received statin drugs or extended-release niacin, another cholesterol-lowering medication, for a six-week period.

Unlike dietary cholesterol, which is transported to the liver and excreted through the bile, the brain gets rid of cholesterol by first converting it into 24S-hydroxycholesterol, which is elevated in individuals with Alzheimer's disease.

The researchers took blood samples and measured the amount of 24S-hydroxycholesterol to determine how much cholesterol was expelled from the brain. The statins reduced levels of 24S-hydroxycholesterol by at least 20 percent, while 24S-hydroxycholesterol levels dropped by 10 percent with extended-release niacin.

Now that the researchers have shown that statins safely and effectively reduce levels of brain cholesterol, Weiner said they would study whether statins have any cognitive benefits for people with Alzheimer's.

Other sources: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center