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Simvastatin enhances learning and memory independent of amyloid load in mice
Author(s) -
Li Ling,
Cao Dongfeng,
Kim Helen,
Lester Robin,
Fukuchi Kenichiro
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/ana.21053
Subject(s) - simvastatin , statin , alzheimer's disease , amyloid beta , amyloid (mycology) , neuroprotection , medicine , endocrinology , neuroscience , disease , pharmacology , psychology , pathology
Objective Normal aging is often associated with a decline in learning and memory functions. This decline is manifested to a much greater extent in Alzheimer's disease. Recent studies have indicated statins, a class of cholesterol‐lowering drugs, as a potential therapy for Alzheimer's disease. Our objective was to determine whether administering a statin drug (simvastatin) would protect against the development of behavioral deficits in an established mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Methods Tg2576 mice and their nontransgenic littermates were treated with simvastatin and assessed by behavioral tests and biochemical analyses. Results Simvastatin treatment not only reversed learning and memory deficits in the Tg2576 mice, but also enhanced learning and memory in the nontransgenic mice. Moreover, levels of amyloid β protein in the brains of treated mice did not differ from those of untreated mice. Simvastatin treatment was associated with increased expression levels of protein kinase B (Akt) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase in the mouse brain. Interpretation Our findings demonstrate that the effects of simvastatin on learning and memory are independent of amyloid β protein levels. The mechanisms by which simvastatin exerts its beneficial effects may be related to modulation of signaling pathways in memory formation. Ann Neurol 2006;60:729–739

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