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Simvastatin therapy prevents brain trauma‐induced increases in β‐amyloid peptide levels
Author(s) -
Abrahamson Eric E.,
Ikonomovic Milos D.,
Dixon C. Edward,
DeKosky Steven T.
Publication year - 2009
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.21731
Subject(s) - traumatic brain injury , simvastatin , medicine , beta (programming language) , hippocampal formation , amyloid beta , amyloid (mycology) , statin , head injury , pathological , disease , pharmacology , pathology , surgery , psychiatry , computer science , programming language
Elevations in β‐amyloid peptide (Aβ) levels after traumatic brain injury (TBI) may confer risk for developing Alzheimer's disease in head trauma patients. We investigated the effects of simvastatin, a 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐CoA reductase inhibitor, on hippocampal Aβ burden in a clinically relevant head injury/intervention model using mice expressing human Aβ. Simvastatin therapy blunted TBI‐induced increases in Aβ, reduced hippocampal tissue damage and microglial activation, and improved behavioral outcome. The ability of statins to reduce post‐injury Aβ load and ameliorate pathological sequelae of brain injury makes them potentially effective in reducing the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease in TBI patients. Ann Neurol 2009;66:407–414