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Heart drugs may slow dementia
A popular treatment for high cholesterol may also protect against Alzheimer's disease, an American study has found.
Researchers from the University of Washington looked at the organs of 110 people who had died between the age of 65 and 79. They found that those who had been taking cholesterol-reducing statins were much less likely to have the 'tangles' in the brain that are characteristic of dementia, even if they were genetically predisposed to develop the condition.
The cause of Alzheimer's disease is poorly understood, and there is no known cure. While the study does not prove beyond doubt that the use of statins can delay the onset of dementia, it adds weight to previous evidence that they have a role to play.
“Our study is the first to compare the brains of people who had received statins with those who had not,” explained lead author Dr Gail Li.
“Statins are probably more likely to help prevent the disease in certain kinds of people than others. Some day we may be able to know more precisely which individuals will benefit from which types of statins.”
Category: Health
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