Research Shows Statins May be Beneficial in Treating Alzheimer's Disease

SUN CITY, Ariz., Dec. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Prior research studies have suggested certain cholesterol lowering statin drugs may not have beneficial effects on patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD). In fact in a study where patients were treated with simvastatin for 18 months, compared with those who were administered placebo, patients were shown not to exhibit any benefit in lowering cholesterol, a risk factor that can be seen as beneficial in patients with AD.

In the December issue of Nature Reviews/Neurology, Larry Sparks, PhD, Senior Scientist at Banner Sun Health Research Institute presents evidence that statins can have a favorable impact in the treatment of patients with AD. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study led by Sparks, individuals with mild to moderate AD were given atorvastatin in hopes that it would provide favorable outcomes in patients with AD.

Patients with Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores between 12-28 were recruited. The study aimed to positively influence a series of outcome measures that may suggest improvement in the trial participants. Sparks looked at specific outcome measurements to assess patient benefit of atorvastatin use.  Primary outcome measures used were: changes in the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale and the Clinical Global Impression of Change Scale Scores. Other outcome measures focused on MMSE scores, Geriatric Depression Scale scores, Neuropsychiatric Inventory Scale, cholesterol levels and the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living Inventory. 

Results of the Sparks study showed benefit in cognition and other outcome measures following atorvastatin treatment which achieved statistical significance compared with placebo at six months and patients treated with the statin showed a trend towards improvement at one year. "This evidence may be of clinical benefit to patients and could be established as a possible effective treatment for patients suffering from AD," says Sparks. "While these findings are provocative, larger research trials are required to further research the significance of statins as a treatment for AD."

AD is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by a variety of structural and functional neurodegenerative changes. While the cause and progression of AD are not completely understood, those afflicted with the disease suffer from progressive dementia. According to the Alzheimer's Association, AD is now the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

Sparks, D. L. Nat. Rev. Neurol. 7, 662–663 (2011);

About Banner Sun Health Research Institute
For 24 years, Sun Health Research Institute, part of nonprofit Banner Health, has been a leader nationally and internationally in the effort to find answers to disorders of aging including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. The institute, together with its Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium partners, has been designated by the National Institutes of Health as one of just 29 Alzheimer's Disease Centers in the nation. The institute's Cleo Roberts Center for Clinical Research takes laboratory discoveries to clinical trials that foster hope for new treatments. Banner Health is Arizona's leading health care provider and second largest private employer. For more information, visit www.BannerSHRI.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Brian Browne
Ph: (623) 832-6536
[email protected]

SOURCE Banner Sun Health Research Institute