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Do statins slow down Alzheimer's disease? A review
Author(s) -
Caballero J.,
Nahata M.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.622
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1365-2710
pISSN - 0269-4727
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2710.2004.00560.x
Subject(s) - medicine , disease , epidemiology , hmg coa reductase , incidence (geometry) , statin , adverse effect , cognitive decline , alzheimer's disease , population , reductase , dementia , environmental health , biology , biochemistry , physics , optics , enzyme
Summary More than 4 million people suffer from Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the United States. The prevalence increases with age as the rate is 3% in those between 65 and 74 years compared with 47% among those over 85 years of age. Some epidemiological studies have reported a decrease in the incidence of AD with the use of 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐coenzyme A (HMG‐CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins). Other studies have shown statins to decrease A β peptides, but data regarding cognitive benefits is lacking in this patient population. There are also concerns that statins, which cross the blood–brain barrier may cause more side‐effects, but more information is needed. Adverse events were either infrequently noted or not reported in most of the published studies, and at this time there is insufficient evidence to suggest the use of statins for cognitive improvements in patients with AD.