The Role of Statins in the Prevention and Management of Alzheimer’s Disease: A Focused Review

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by a progressive decline in cognitive functions that primarily affects older adults. Alzheimer’s is pathophysiologically characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques, neuroinflammation, accumulation of tau proteins in neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), and tissue loss. Statins, commonly prescribed to lower cholesterol in the blood, and their anti-inflammatory effects have gained attention for their potential impact on influencing AD progression. This literature review explores the relationship between the use of statins and AD, examining the effect of statins on cholesterol metabolism, neuroinflammation, apolipoprotein E (ApoE), and Aβ production. Research in both human and rodent models demonstrate statins abilities to reduce inflammatory markers, oxidative stress, and Aβ levels while modulating ApoE function. However, the precise mechanism for which statins slow the progression of neurodegeneration in AD is still unclear and warrants further research before clinical application.