Statins, cholesterol lowering drugs may not prevent Alzheimer's Disease

Taking statins, which are cholesterol-lowering drugs, offers no protection against Alzheimer's disease, revealed by US researchers at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

The research published in the Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

The study involved 929 Catholic clergy members who were an average of 75 years old, free of dementia at the beginning of the study and enrolled in the Religious Orders Study, an ongoing study of aging and Alzheimer's disease. All of the participants agreed to a brain autopsy at the time of their death and underwent annual cognitive tests for up to 12 years.

At the beginning of the study, 119 people were taking a statin. During the 12-year follow-up period, 191 people developed Alzheimer's disease, of whom 16 used statins at the start of the study.

"Some studies have suggested people taking cholesterol-lowering drugs are less likely to have Alzheimer's disease, but our longitudinal findings found no relation between statin use and Alzheimer's," said study author Zoe Arvanitakis, MD, MS, Associate Professor of the Department of Neurological Sciences at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and member of the American Academy of Neurology. "The study also found no association between taking statins and a slower cognitive decline among older people."

In addition, researchers performed brain autopsies on more than 250 people who died during the study to examine the relation of statins to Alzheimer's disease pathology and stroke in the brain, the two common pathological causes of dementia. The study found statin use at any time during the course of the study had no effect on pathology of Alzheimer's disease or strokes.

Arvanitakis says the study is limited in that there were relatively few statin users among those who died. She says future studies will need to look at the possibility of associations of statins with other pathologic changes of Alzheimer's disease not examined in this study.

The study was supported by grants from the National Institute on Aging.


(Editor compiled and published Statins, cholesterol lowering drugs may not prevent Alzheimer's Disease at HealthNewsTrack on January 18, 2008 sourced from American Academy of Neurology - http://www.aan.com/press/index.cfm?fuseaction=release.view&release=573)

Alzheimer's Disease - recent articles and current news stories:

- Alzheimer's Disease patients may not get benefit from antioxidants
- Reversing Alzheimer's gene blockade can restore memory
- Bexarotene cancer drug may reverse Alzheimer's symptoms
- Brain stimulating habits lowers Alzheimer's disease risk
- People with early Alzheimer's disease may have lower BMI

Most related articles:

- Statins, cholesterol lowering drugs may not prevent Alzheimer's Disease
- Statins may help prevent stroke recurrence - 13.1
- Statin use reduces Parkinson Disease risk - 10.5
- Safety changes in labeling for cholesterol lowering drugs statins - 9.8
- Cholesterol lowering drugs statins may help hospitalized influenza patients - 9.8

More related articles:

- Statin, Cholesterol, Alzheimer's Disease, Neurology, Dementia, Aging, Brain, Cognitive, Pathology, Stroke
- Education level linked to Alzheimer's disease, dementia - 12.5
- Exercise may prevent Early Alzheimer's disease - 12.5
- Mid life cholesterol levels not linked to Alzheimer's disease - 10.9
- Secret of sharp memory in old age revealed - 10.5

Alzheimer's Disease related articles:

- Cell phone may boost memory in Alzheimer's disease patients - 4.3
- Alzheimer's Society comment on benefits of weekly curry - 4.2
- Depression may increase Alzheimer's disease risk - 4.1
- Protein regulates enzyme linked to Alzheimer's disease - 4.1
- Potential Alzheimer's disease diagnostic test using spinal fluid - 4.1

Alzheimer's Disease article/news source:

Read more health articles from American Academy of Neurology and health articles from USA.

Alzheimer's Disease - search related terms:

Aging, Alzheimer's Disease, Brain, Cholesterol, Cognitive, Dementia, Neurology, Pathology, Statin, Stroke,
Alzheimer's Disease books,

List health news, Health organizations, Health news world, Glossary, Best health articles, Featured     Go to top

The information provided on Health Newstrack is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her physician. We comply with the HONcode principles for trustworthy health information, and Health News Track is hon code accredited, verify here.
About us, Site map Privacy policy, Disclaimer
© 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 HealthNewsTrack.com
0.98