Can Statins Treat Dementia?

The Alzheimer’s Association suggests that more than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s dementia, yet there is still no treatment to stop or slow its progression – and the number of people living with the disease is rapidly growing.

But there may be hope in a new research trial that will determine if taking a statin – a drug with anti-inflammatory properties commonly used to lower cholesterol and help keep blood vessels healthy – could help adults age 75 or older live well longer by preventing dementia and heart disease.

Preventable, known as one of the largest trial studies for older adults, was started by researchers at the Duke Clinical Research Institute and is led by geriatric cardiologist Dr. Karen Alexander. Funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the trial will include 20,000 subjects from across the country. Participants without heart disease or dementia will either be given at random 40 mg of Atorvastatin, which can prevent heart attacks by lowering high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, or a placebo. Both will be shipped to study subjects’ homes every three months; researchers plan to follow individuals for up to five years to test their memory and physical abilities by reviewing health records and making phone calls or home visits.

A local site for Preventable is the University of Miami. Dr. Olveen Carrasquillo, chief of general medicine at UM, is a clinician at the site. He hopes to expand testing to anyone interested in participating; as of now, UM is enrolling patients within its health system clinics, only.

“We’ll be able to know from our own clinics and see which [patients] qualify and then go through their records, agreeing they gave us consent to participate in research studies. And if they qualify we’ll call them and describe this study, and let them know [how to enroll] if they’re interested in participating,” he said.

According to a March 2020 report by the Alzheimer’s Association, Black Americans are about twice as likely as white Americans to have Alzheimer’s and other dementias, but are only 34% more likely to be diagnosed. Hispanics are about one and a half times more likely than non-Hispanic whites to have Alzheimer’s, but are only 18% more likely to be diagnosed.

While genetic factors play a role in the risk of Alzheimer’s, studies have not found a direct correlation between this and dementia risk regarding race. However, health, socioeconomic factors, stressors and comorbidity also play a role in the disproportionate number of minorities who suffer from Alzheimer’s.

The study is looking to prioritize minority participation. Carrasquillo would like to meet a goal of at least 20% Black Americans and 50% Hispanics in the trial.

“We know minorities are disproportionately affected, yet all the studies don’t sample enough [of them], so we don’t know. How do we know that these medicines were tested in groups that are high risk, work for the high-risk groups and that they’re also safe?” said Carrasquillo. “That’s what my lifelong passion is, it’s to make sure we do a lot of studies of minority populations to make sure they’re adequately presented in these studies.”