Cholesterol lowering in Alzheimer’s disease
Aβ is the central component of amyloid plaques and its secretion and deposition are the most likely cause of the neurodegenerative process in Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, one of the major aims in Alzheimer’s disease research is to decrease or block the production of Aβ. Work of a former lab member, Mika Simons, in cell culture and animals, conducted in the laboratory of Konrad Beyreuther, has shown that blockers of the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, so-called statins, lead to a reduction of Aβ secretion. Epidemiologic studies have shown that HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors reduce the incidence of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease by 70%. In a first double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study we investigated whether the treatment over 26 weeks with a HMG-CoA inhibitor, simvastatin, reduced the concentration of Aβ in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Especially in patients with a mild form of the disease, we found a small but significant reduction. Although the data were promising, this study did not answer the question whether simvastatin slowed or halted the cognitive decline.
For this purpse a multicenter, international study was initiated with the title
An 80-week, randomized, multi-center, parallel-group, double-blind study of the efficacy and safety of atorvastatin 80 mg plus an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor versus an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor alone in the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.
This study aims to test the hypothesis derived from the above mentioned results that atorvastatin, a statin, slows the progression of cognitive decline when used in addition to the standard therapy of Alzheimer’s disease, namely an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor.
More information on this study may be found in German language by using this link
554KB)In Germany centers in Berlin, Bonn, Göttingen, Hannover, München und Tübingen participate on this study.