Pravastatin at 10 mg/day does not decrease plasma levels of either amyloid-beta (Abeta) 40 or Abeta 42 in humans.

It has been assumed that statins work as a preventative drug for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although some epidemiological observations raise doubts to the effectiveness of statins for AD, many in vitro and clinical studies insist on the effectiveness of statins decreasing amyloid-beta (Abeta) levels in medium or blood. To explore the effect of pravastatin on Abeta production, we followed the longitudinal plasma levels of both Abeta 40 and Abeta 42 during the allocation of pravastatin in 46 patients with hyperlipidemia. We found no correlation between plasma cholesterol levels or the decreasing values of total cholesterol and those of Abeta 40 or Abeta 42. Patients having Apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4) had higher low-density lipoprotein levels and lower Abeta 40 levels in plasma, suggesting ApoE4 seems to influence plasma Abeta levels via cholesterol metabolism.