BACKGROUND: Statins are being developed as treatments for Alzheimer's dementia based on evidence from preclinical and observational studies. However, cholesterol plays an integral role in cell membrane signal transduction and suboptimal cholesterol level could potentially impair neuronal function. Additionally, results of observational nonrandomized studies may have been affected by treatment bias. METHODS: We performed a systematic literature review in MEDLINE from January 1966 to July 2004 and included published prospective, randomized, and placebo-controlled human studies that examined the cognitive effects of statins. RESULTS: Nine studies with sample sizes ranging from 22 to 20,000 and duration of 3 weeks to 5 years, met criteria for review. Study populations and cognitive outcomes varied. Four studies were >6 months or longer. Overall, none of these studies reported finding a positive benefit for any statin on cognition in non-demented subjects although there was inconsistent evidence for acute cognitive worsening in some studies. CONCLUSION: While statins intuitively have appeal for the prevention or treatment of dementia, any conclusions about their efficacy should await more definitive evidence from on-going prospective clinical trials.
BACKGROUND: Statins are being developed as treatments for Alzheimer's dementia based on evidence from preclinical and observational studies. However, cholesterol plays an integral role in cell membrane signal transduction and suboptimal cholesterol level could potentially impair neuronal function. Additionally, results of observational nonrandomized studies may have been affected by treatment bias. METHODS: We performed a systematic literature review in MEDLINE from January 1966 to July 2004 and included published prospective, randomized, and placebo-controlled human studies that examined the cognitive effects of statins. RESULTS: Nine studies with sample sizes ranging from 22 to 20,000 and duration of 3 weeks to 5 years, met criteria for review. Study populations and cognitive outcomes varied. Four studies were >6 months or longer. Overall, none of these studies reported finding a positive benefit for any statin on cognition in non-demented subjects although there was inconsistent evidence for acute cognitive worsening in some studies. CONCLUSION: While statins intuitively have appeal for the prevention or treatment of dementia, any conclusions about their efficacy should await more definitive evidence from on-going prospective clinical trials.
Authors: May A Beydoun; Lori L Beason-Held; Melissa H Kitner-Triolo; Hind A Beydoun; Luigi Ferrucci; Susan M Resnick; Alan B Zonderman Journal: J Epidemiol Community Health Date: 2010-09-14 Impact factor: 3.710
Authors: Ryo Suzuki; Kevin Lee; Enxuan Jing; Sudha B Biddinger; Jeffrey G McDonald; Thomas J Montine; Suzanne Craft; C Ronald Kahn Journal: Cell Metab Date: 2010-12-01 Impact factor: 27.287
Authors: Warren B Zigman; Nicole Schupf; Edmund C Jenkins; Tiina K Urv; Benjamin Tycko; Wayne Silverman Journal: Neurosci Lett Date: 2007-02-11 Impact factor: 3.046
Authors: Abhishek S Chitnis; Rajender R Aparasu; Hua Chen; Mark E Kunik; Paul E Schulz; Michael L Johnson Journal: Drugs Aging Date: 2015-09 Impact factor: 3.923
Authors: Sally-Ann Cooper; Muriel Caslake; Jonathan Evans; Angela Hassiotis; Andrew Jahoda; Alex McConnachie; Jill Morrison; Howard Ring; John Starr; Ciara Stiles; Frank Sullivan Journal: Trials Date: 2014-06-03 Impact factor: 2.279