Cholesterol-Lowering Drug Could Slow Alzheimer’s Progress, Researchers Say

Statins, a class of drugs produced by major pharmaceutical manufacturers for decreasing blood cholesterol levels, could also aid in slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers report that finding in a recent issue of the Journal of Alzheimer’s disease.

A German research team reports that the statin drug Lovastatin, in addition to decreasing blood cholesterol levels, also blocked nerve cells from dying in Alzheimer’s patients. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurological disease in which neurons in the brain die, producing progressive loss of cognitive function and eventual death.

The German research team found that in patients taking Lovastatin, the drug stimulated brain cells to produce a specific receptor for tumor necrosis factor or TNF, which plays a role in the body’s immune system. Previous studies have demonstrated that this specific TNF signaling pathway has a strong beneficial effect on nerve cells and can protect nerve cells against death.

This finding now demonstrates that a widely given drug like a statin can activate this protective pathway.


Source: Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease 13 (2):111-122.