Simvastatin therapy prevents brain trauma-induced increases in β-amyloid peptide levels
✍ Scribed by Eric E. Abrahamson; Milos D. Ikonomovic; C. Edward Dixon; Steven T. DeKosky
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 2009
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 242 KB
- Volume
- 66
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0364-5134
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
Abstract
Elevations in β‐amyloid peptide (Aβ) levels after traumatic brain injury (TBI) may confer risk for developing Alzheimer's disease in head trauma patients. We investigated the effects of simvastatin, a 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐CoA reductase inhibitor, on hippocampal Aβ burden in a clinically relevant head injury/intervention model using mice expressing human Aβ. Simvastatin therapy blunted TBI‐induced increases in Aβ, reduced hippocampal tissue damage and microglial activation, and improved behavioral outcome. The ability of statins to reduce post‐injury Aβ load and ameliorate pathological sequelae of brain injury makes them potentially effective in reducing the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease in TBI patients. Ann Neurol 2009;66:407–414