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Cholesterol-lowering drugs, known as statins, have been shown to dramatically reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Now, researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine suggest that people who take statins may also be reducing their risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by nearly 80 percent. Mounting evidence from numerous studies has suggested that factors which contribute to heart disease--diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, sedentary lifestyle--may also play a role in the development of Alzheimer's disease.
At the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting, Dr. Robert Green and associates at Boston University School of Medicine presented strong evidence that statin treatment may help protect people from Alzheimer's disease, which affects four million Americans. Although the findings are preliminary, the researchers speculate that statins may reduce production of the protein beta amyloid, thought to cause the disease. Researchers, however, caution that it is premature to use statins to prevent dementia or treat Alzheimer's.
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