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Common Cholesterol Statin Pill 'Treats Alzheimer's Disease'

PA/The Huffington Post UK  |  By   |  Posted: 4/04/2012 08:55 Updated: 4/04/2012 08:55

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Cholesterol Statins Alzheimers

A common cholesterol-lowering drug may be effective against Alzheimer's if given at an early stage of the disease, new research suggests.

The findings, from a mouse study, add to laboratory evidence that cholesterol-lowering statins may prevent some of the symptoms of Alzheimer's.

Earlier work by the same Canadian team showed that the drug simvastatin improved blood flow in the brains of year-old laboratory mice with Alzheimer's.

The new study by McGill University found it also boosted learning and memory - but only in younger six-month-old animals whose disease had not progressed far.

Younger mice had higher levels of two memory-related proteins in the hippocampus, the brain's key memory centre.

In both cases, the animals received higher doses of simvastatin. Low doses of the drug can be bought over-the-counter at pharmacies in the UK.

Significantly, statin treatment had no effect on one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's, a build up of amyloid beta protein in the brain.

The findings are published in the latest issue of the Journal of Neuroscience.

Study leader Dr Edith Hamel, from McGill University, said: "This study shows that simvastatin can protect against some of the damaging effects of Alzheimer's disease on nerve cells involved in memory, if administered early in the disease process."

However the scientists pointed out that more research was needed to find out whether humans could benefit the same way.

US Alzheimer's expert Dr Ling Li, from the University of Minnesota, said: "This article joins an increasing number of pre-clinical studies demonstrating that statins, in particular simvastatin - which easily penetrates the brain - can counteract some aspects of Alzheimer's disease, despite seeing no effects on amyloid-beta protein.

"Although several clinical trials have yet to show the benefits of statins for Alzheimer's disease, the key now is to figure out how to translate these exciting findings from bench to bedside."

Dr Simon Ridley, from the charity Alzheimer's Research UK, said: "Overall evidence suggests that statins like simvastatin do not benefit people with dementia, but this new mouse study suggests that the timing of treatment could be vital.

"Many experts believe that treatments for dementia will be most beneficial if given very early in the disease process.

"While these new findings are valuable, the benefits are shown in mice and we don't know how they will bear out in humans. There is a real need to push on with research that will boost early detection and help people with dementia get more benefit from treatments."

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  • Lifestyle Changes To Help Prevent Dementia

  • Drink Decaffeinated Coffee

    A study at Mount Sinai School of Medicine found that <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/02/01/decaffeinated-coffee-preserves-memory-diabetes_n_1246240.html" target="_hplink">decaffeinated coffee improves the brain's energy metabolism - linked to cognitive decline</a> - in those with Type 2 diabetes. "This is the first evidence showing the potential benefits of decaffeinated coffee preparations for both preventing and treating cognitive decline caused by type 2 diabetes, ageing, and/ or neurodegenerative disorders," said lead researcher, Dr Giulio Maria Pasinett.

  • Play Brain-Teasing Games

    Everyday <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/12/01/puzzles-and-exercise-help-beat-dementia-symptoms_n_1122502.html" target="_hplink">games, puzzles and tasks were able to postpone decline in cognitive function and the ability to carry out everyday tasks, in dementia patients, for at least a year</a>, according to research from the University of Erlangen in Germany, published in the journals BMC Medicine.

  • Eat Less

    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/12/20/eat-less-remember-more-and-other-memory-boosters_n_1160584.html" target="_hplink">Eating fewer calories could help boost memory and cognitive function</a>, according to a study at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Rome. Researchers hope to mimic the same effect with a drug in the future, bringing hope to Alzheimer's sufferers as well as those suffering from injury-related memory loss.

  • Eat Fish

    Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre and School of Medicine found that <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/11/30/eating-fish-protects-against-alzheimers_n_1120156.html" target="_hplink">people who ate baked or grilled fish regularly reduced their risk of developing Alzheimer's</a>. Reseracher Cyrus Raji said: "The results showed that people who consumed baked or broiled (grilled) fish at least one time per week had better preservation of grey matter volume on MRI in brain areas at risk for Alzheimer's disease."

  • Play The Wii Fit

    <a href="http://lifestyle.aol.co.uk/2012/01/17/why-a-wii-workout-could-be-better-than-the-gym-for-over-50s/" target="_hplink">Working out using virtual games such as the Wii Fit could slow cognitive decline in the over 50s</a>, researchers from Union College in the US found. Participants aged between 58 and 99 were given a 3D exercise game to play. Compared to the control group who were asked to use a regular exercise bike, the 'cybercycle' group had a 23% decrease in advancement of mild cognitive impairment and showed improved 'executive function'.

  • Do The Seven-Step Plan

    A study in The Lancet Neurology suggest that <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/07/19/new-study-shows-seven-way_n_901934.html" target="_hplink">3m cases of Alzheimer's across the world could be prevented in seven simple ways</a>. The report recommends quitting smoking, increasing physical activity, controlling your blood pressure and diabetes risk factors as well as managing depression and obesity to help combat the disease.

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A common cholesterol-lowering drug may be effective against Alzheimer's if given at an early stage of the disease, new research suggests. The findings, from a mouse study, add to laboratory evidenc...
A common cholesterol-lowering drug may be effective against Alzheimer's if given at an early stage of the disease, new research suggests. The findings, from a mouse study, add to laboratory evidenc...
 
 
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Lord Justice Wolf
57 Fans
17:57 on 04/04/2012
There was a story awhile back from a scientist in new mexico who believed that air pollution was responsible for a lot of memory loss deceases in the world today? He believed that our oxygen quality has changed so much in the last 100 to 150 years that not enough oxygen was getting into our blood. Basically tests were carried out in north America and south America in non built up areas and in inner city's and found oxygen levels to differ quite alarmingly. Oxygen is a vital key to maintaining a healthy brain. If not enough or if the quality of oxygen is poor that a person breaths in on a daily basis is not rectified by pure oxygen (monitored) then this will lead to vital brain cells being starved and slowly shutting down and dying. Im not sure what happened to this scientist but maybe more research should be done on this theory. I am aware of no DNA link were a gene has been identified, so maybe it is a question of oxygen quality and brain cells being starved of that vital ingredient which will invariably cause the cells to die. Surely if these receptors and fibres die due to lack of oxygen or quality oxygen then this could lead to .....Alzheimer's?
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Mickey Mouse 1
There are no lies or deceit on a chess board.
180 Fans
11:20 on 04/04/2012
Earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S. ordered statins must carry warnings that some users have reported cognitive problems including memory loss, forgetfulness and confusion.
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Rachel Eastwood-Vauls
0 Fans
10:19 on 04/04/2012
Well my Dad's been on statins for years & he still developed Alzheimers in his 60's so think this is a load of rubbish....
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