title: Statins for Treating Alzheimer's Disease: Truly Ineffective?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Animal studies suggest that statins may have a protective effect on Alzheimer's disease (AD), but some clinical trials have reported negative results.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of statins in the treatment of AD.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched the PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, OVID SP, and ProQuest databases to select double-blind, randomized controlled trials pertaining to statins given to patients diagnosed with AD. The meta-analysis used main outcomes such as scores on the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-Cog) and secondary outcomes such as scores on the Dependence Scale, Activities of Daily Living Scale (ADCS-ADL), Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), Clinical Global Impression of Change (CGIC), and Alzheimer's Disease Functional Assessment and Change Scale (ADFACS). Safety measures included the standard reporting of any adverse events or laboratory abnormalities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four studies (1,127 participants) involving patients with a diagnosis of probable or possible AD were included. There were no significant differences between the statins and placebo groups regarding the main outcomes, secondary outcomes, or adverse events. Most of the studies ignored or downplayed risk factors for cerebral vascular disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Statins are well tolerated without unexpected adverse events. However, more research is needed to determine whether statins are effective for AD with vascular risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Oumei
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors