R. Kennedy Keller, Ph.D.

Basis for the Effects of Statins in Alzheimer's Disease

A characteristic of Alzheimer's disease is the accumulation of a small neurotoxic protein in the brain called Abeta. Abeta is thought to be directly involved in the progression to AD. Several studies in animals suggest that statins lower the incidence of Abeta accumulation and might therefore be protective. A retrospective study found that persons who took statins for the treatment of high blood cholesterol were later observed to have a lower incidence of AD. While the precise mechanism of their interference with Alzheimer's disease is not known yet, in vitro studies in isolated cells indicate that statins might suppress inflammation. One possible pathway for this anti inflammatory effect is that statins inhibit the modification, specifically the prenylation, of selected proteins. To verify this hypothesis, we will investigate if statins can in fact interfere with the prenylation pathway in animals and thereby serve as a protective anti-inflammatory agent against Alzheimer's disease.