Resumen
Objectives: Epidemiologic reports indicate that lipid-lowering agents (LLAs) protect against dementia. We hypothesized that LLAs might affect cholinergic systems. The effects of LLAs on the activity of cholinesterases were examined. Design and methods: Odds ratios and relative risks were calculated from clinical studies of LLAs and dementia and compared with their impacts on human cholinesterases. Representative LLAs were examined for their effects on the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) using Ellman's assay. Results: Epidemiological studies, but not clinical trials, showed lower odds of dementia in patients taking "statins". Comparison of LLAs indicated that "statins" most consistently produced apparent protection. Individual "statins" showed differential cholinesterase inhibition. Lovastatin and simvastatin significantly inhibited butyrylcholinesterase, while mevastatin, pravastatin and the "non-statins" did not. None of the LLAs inhibited acetylcholinesterase. Conclusions: Some "statins" inhibit butyrylcholinesterase. This inhibition suggests a possible means whereby "statins" could protect against dementia.
Idioma original | English |
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Páginas (desde-hasta) | 42-49 |
Número de páginas | 8 |
Publicación | Clinical Biochemistry |
Volumen | 37 |
N.º | 1 |
DOI | |
Estado | Published - ene. 2004 |
Nota bibliográfica
Funding Information:Dr. Darvesh is a Clinical Research Scholar of the Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University. Dr. Rockwood is supported by an Investigator Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and by the Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation as the Kathryn Allen Weldon Professor of Alzheimer Research, which provided funding for this study. Additional funds that contributed to the support of this work came from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Queen Elizabeth II Health Science Centre Research Fund, Heart and Stroke Foundation of New Brunswick, and the Committee on Research and Publications of Mount Saint Vincent University.
ASJC Scopus Subject Areas
- Clinical Biochemistry
PubMed: MeSH publication types
- Journal Article
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't