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Effects of simvastatin on cholesterol metabolism and Alzheimer disease biomarkers

Authors

Serrano-Pozo, Alberto, Vega, Gloria L., Lütjohann, Dieter, Locascio, Joseph J., Tennis, Marsha K., Deng, Amy, Atri, Alireza, Hyman, Bradley T., Irizarry, Michael C., Growdon, John H.

Journal

Alzheimer Disease And Associated Disorders, Volume: 24, No.: 3, Pages.: 220-226

Year of Publication

2010

Abstract

Preclinical and epidemiologic studies suggest a protective effect of statins on Alzheimer disease (AD). Experimental evidence indicates that some statins can cross the blood-brain barrier, alter brain cholesterol metabolism, and may ultimately decrease the production of amyloid-beta (Abeta) peptide. Despite these promising leads, clinical trials have yielded inconsistent results regarding the benefits of statin treatment in AD. Seeking to detect a biological signal of statins effect on AD, we conducted a 12-week open-label trial with simvastatin 40 mg/d and then 80 mg/d in 12 patients with AD or amnestic mild cognitive impairment and hypercholesterolemia. We quantified cholesterol precursors and metabolites and AD biomarkers of Abeta and tau in both plasma and cerebrospinal fluid at baseline and after the 12-week treatment period. We found a modest but significant inhibition of brain cholesterol biosynthesis after simvastatin treatment, as indexed by a decrease of cerebrospinal fluid lathosterol and plasma 24S-hydroxycholesterol. Despite this effect, there were no changes in AD biomarkers. Our findings indicate that simvastatin treatment can affect brain cholesterol metabolism within 12 weeks, but did not alter molecular indices of AD pathology during this short-term treatment.;

Bibtex Citation

@article{Serrano_Pozo_2010, doi = {10.1097/wad.0b013e3181d61fea}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/WAD.0b013e3181d61fea}, year = 2010, month = {may}, publisher = {Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)}, pages = {1}, author = {Alberto Serrano-Pozo and Gloria L. Vega and Dieter Lütjohann and Joseph J. Locascio and Marsha K. Tennis and Amy Deng and Alireza Atri and Bradley T. Hyman and Michael C. Irizarry and John H. Growdon}, title = {Effects of Simvastatin on Cholesterol Metabolism and Alzheimer Disease Biomarkers}, journal = {Alzheimer Disease {&} Associated Disorders} }

Keywords

administration & dosage, adverse effects, aged, alzheimer disease, anticholesteremic agents, biological markers, biosynthesis, blood, brain, cerebrospinal fluid, cholesterol, cognition disorders, drug therapy, female, humans, hydroxycholesterols, hypercholesterolemia, male, metabolism, middle aged, simvastatin

Countries of Study

USA

Types of Dementia

Alzheimer’s Disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)

Types of Study

Before and After Study

Type of Outcomes

Other

Type of Interventions

Pharmaceutical Interventions

Pharmaceutical Interventions

Other