Statins and therapy of Alzheimer's disease: Questions of effi cacy versus trial design

Abstract

Recent trials of statins produced no benefi t for subjects with Alzheimer's disease. These negative studies add to a growing list of negative clinical trials. These data point to a need for reevaluating the pathophysiology of late-onset Alzheimer's disease. Late-onset Alzheimer's disease might result from the cumulative eff ects of at least four diff erent factors: β -Amyloid accumulation, cardiovascular disease, aging and the associated loss of synaptic plasticity, and infl ammation. Successful therapy of subjects with overt dementia might require approaches targeting all four pathophysiological domains.