Will statins be used in dementia treatment?
Wehr, H.; Bednarska-Makaruk, M.łg.
Neurologia i Neurochirurgia Polska 39(4): 318-323
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-3843 PMID: 16096937 Document Number: 585087
The paper presents current opinions on the mechanism of beta-amyloid accumulation, the role of cholesterol in the pathogenesis of dementia and observations of the role of statins in its development. Most of the observations were done on Alzheimer's disease, some of them concerned also dementia of a vascular origin and cognition. Statins are inhibitors of the cholesterol synthesis pathway. The mechanism of their action concerns not only their influence on the cholesterol level but also their influence on prenylation of various proteins and in consequence inhibition of inflammatory reactions. They exert also antioxidative activity. As the number of prospective studies is still insufficient the question whether statins could be used as drugs against dementia remains still unsolved.