Statin Drugs May Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease
July 29th, 2008 | by admin |
Statins, which are a class of drugs used to fight high levels of bad cholesterol may help to fend off Alzheimer’s disease.
In a study published yesterday, researchers noted that those people who were given statins opposed to a placebo were half as likely to develop Alzheimer’s or any other form of dementia.
The study featured more than 1,674 elderly Mexican Americans living in California.
Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disease that is eventually fatal. It is characterized by plaque that builds up on the brain of patients, impairing their memory, and eventually, other body functions.
“We aren’t suggesting that people should take statins to prevent cognitive decline if they don’t need them for other reasons,” study author Mary N. Haan, DrPH, of the University of Michigan School of Public Health, tells WebMD. “But we need a trial designed to determine if statins really do reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s.”
The study appears in the August issue of the journal Neurology.
Source: WebMD
