SUN CITY, Ariz., May 9 (UPI) -- A study by the Sun Health Research Institute in Sun City, Ariz., suggests the cholesterol-lowering drug Atorvastatin might help Alzheimer's patients.
The study indicated Atorvastatin had some positive effects on clinical measures of cognitive and psychiatric symptoms in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
The researchers said previous studies suggested a link between the pathology of Alzheimer's and cholesterol metabolism, and some epidemiological studies have shown that some cholesterol-lowering drugs used to prevent coronary artery disease may also reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease later in life.
The Sun Health study was aimed at examining any effects atorvastatin had on cognitive and behavioral deterioration in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.
"We have found that daily administration of 80 mg of atorvastatin calcium significantly reduces circulating cholesterol levels and may have a positive effect on the progressive deterioration of cognitive function and behavior anticipated in mild to moderate AD," the authors wrote.
However, the authors said while the trial was promising, larger-scale studies are needed to fully assess the benefits of the drug on Alzheimer's patients.
The study was published in the May issue of Archives of Neurology,
