Statins reduce the risk of developing AD

Statins, a class of drugs used to lower cholesterol, cut the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease 80%, according to a study in the August 28 edition of Neurology. This finding could help extend the uses for an already lucrative family of compounds. The best-selling drug ever, Pfizer's statin Lipitor (atorvastatin), earned $12.89 billion last year.

A team of US researchers found that, after controlling for age at death, gender, cognitive function at study entry, brain weight and presence of cerebral microvascular lesions, the odds ratio for each unit increase in Braak neurofibrillary tangle stage in statin users versus non-users was 0.44. The OR for each unit increase in Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's disease stage of neuritic plaques, another marker of AD, did not deviate significantly from unity. However, the risk for typical AD pathology (Braak stage IV and CERAD rating moderate) was reduced in statin users, the study authors noted, adding that these findings show a link between antecedent statin use and NFT burden at autopsy. Further study is needed to see whether statins may be related to decreased development of AD neuropathologic changes, the authors conclude.