Is Cholesterol a Memory Thief?

D. Larry Sparks, PhD, Senior Scientist and Head, Roberts Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ, USA.

The primary care physician is often pressed with first-line treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A number of FDA-approved therapies are available. Emerging data indicate that circulating cholesterol levels may influence progression of the dementing disorder. A recent pilot, proof-of-concept, placebo-controlled clinical trial suggests that the cholesterol-lowering medication atorva-statin provides benefit in treating mild-to-moderate AD. Although not approved for the treatment of AD, statin therapy might be considered in the setting of elevated cholesterol levels--even when LDL/HDL ratios are acceptable.
Key words: Alzheimer’s disease, cholesterol, statins, dementia, atorvastatin.