Full access
Clinical & Research News
Published Online: 21 March 2003

Statin Studies Show Mixed Results

Publication: Psychiatric News
Volume 38, Number 6
https://doi.org/10.1176/pn.38.6.0031
A number of animal studies have indicated that the amount of Aβ produced in the brain is affected by the amount of cholesterol absorbed from the animals’ diet. Yet studies of cholesterol-lowering medications in human clinical trials have been conflicting as well as disappointing.
Reducing cholesterol intake has been shown in rabbits, mice, and guinea pigs to reduce total brain levels of Aβ (see story above). At least one study in animals has shown that atorvastatin (Lipitor) reduces actual plaque formation as well.
On the human side, at least two retrospective studies, both published in 2000, have indicated that patients who had taken coenzyme-A reductase inhibitors, more commonly known as “statins,” experienced as much as a 70 percent decrease in the prevalence of Alzheimer’s. However, a recent report by James Shepherd, M.D., professor and chair of the department of pathologic biochemistry at the University of Glasgow, indicates the question of benefit is still not well answered.
Shepherd, the principle investigator of the Prospective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk (PROSPER), reported at last November’s meeting of the American Heart Association that pravastatin (Pravachol) did not appear to help cognition. The drug did result in a 19 percent reduction in death due to coronary artery disease.
Shepherd had hypothesized that of the 5,800 patients in the study, those taking pravastatin would see a slowing of age-related cognitive decline, relative to those receiving placebo, over a three-year period. At the end of the study, however, scores on the Mini-Mental Status Exam (MMSE) were not significantly different between the two groups. (All subjects scored above 24 at baseline, with the average MMSE score equal to 28 in both the prevastatin group and the placebo group.)
Similarly, the Heart Protection Study, with more than 20,000 subjects, also failed to show any effect of simvastatin (Zocor) on cognitive function.
Shepherd noted that while observational studies have suggested that statins can reduce the risk of dementia, neither small, randomized, placebo-controlled studies nor large-scale clinical trials have confirmed any benefit.

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Psychiatric News
Psychiatric News
Volume 38 • Number 6 • March 21, 2003
Pages: 31

History

Published online: 21 March 2003
Published in print: March 21, 2003

Authors

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Export Citations

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu.

Format
Citation style
Style
Copy to clipboard
Tips for downloading citations

There are no citations for this item

View Options

View options

Get Access

Login options

Already a subscriber? Access your subscription through your login credentials or your institution for full access to this article.

Personal login Institutional Login Open Athens login

Not a subscriber?

Subscribe Now / Learn More

PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5-TR® library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development.

Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.).

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Share article link

Share

×

As described within the American Psychiatric Association (APA)'s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, this website utilizes cookies, including for the purpose of offering an optimal online experience and services tailored to your preferences. Please read the entire Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. By closing this message, browsing this website, continuing the navigation, or otherwise continuing to use the APA's websites, you confirm that you understand and accept the terms of the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including the utilization of cookies.