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Statins: mechanisms of neuroprotection
van der Most PJ, Dolga AM, Nijholt IM, Luiten PG, Eisel UL.. Progress in neurobiology, 2009-02-21
Topic: Gut, metabolism and diet
Clinical trials report that the class of drugs known as statins may be neuroprotective in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, and further trials are currently underway to test whether these drugs are also beneficial in multiple sclerosis and acute stroke treatment. Since statins are well tolerated and have relatively few side effects, they may be considered as viable drugs to ameliorate neurodegenerative diseases. However, the mechanism of their neuroprotective effects is only partly understood. In this article, we review the current data on the neuroprotective effects of statins and their underlying mechanisms. In the first section, we detail the mechanisms by which statins affect cellular signalling. The primary action of statins is to inhibit cellular cholesterol synthesis. However, the cholesterol synthesis pathway also has several by-products, the non-sterol isoprenoids that are also important in cellular functioning. Furthermore, reduced cholesterol levels may deplete the cholesterol-rich membrane domains known as lipid rafts, which in turn could affect cellular signalling. In the second section, we summarize how the effects on signalling translate into general neuroprotective effects through peripheral systems. Statins improve blood-flow, reduce coagulation, modulate the immune system and reduce oxidative damage. The final section deals with the effects of statins on the central nervous system, particularly during Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, stroke and multiple sclerosis.
Key findings
- However, the cholesterol synthesis pathway also has several by-products, the non-sterol isoprenoids that are also important in cellular functioning.
- Furthermore, reduced cholesterol levels may deplete the cholesterol-rich membrane domains known as lipid rafts, which in turn could affect cellular signalling.
- In the second section, we summarize how the effects on signalling translate into general neuroprotective effects through peripheral systems.
- Statins improve blood-flow, reduce coagulation, modulate the immune system and reduce oxidative damage.
- The final section deals with the effects of statins on the central nervous system, particularly during Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, stroke and multiple sclerosis.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 36/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on journal's citation record, times cited, citations per year, impact for its field and year, cited by studies here, still being cited, senior author's track record, institution's track record and multi-centre collaboration, so those were left out: it earned 21 of the 58 points we could judge it on, which is 36 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Progress in neurobiology) |
| Journal's citation record | — / 4 | No journal record from OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2009 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | — / 7 | No citation count (not found in OpenAlex) — left out of this score |
| Citations per year | — / 5 | No citation count or no year — left out of this score |
| Impact for its field and year | — / 6 | No field-weighted citation impact (OpenAlex has none yet) — left out of this score |
| Cited by studies here | — / 6 | Not yet checked against this library's citation graph — left out of this score |
| Still being cited | — / 4 | No yearly citation counts — left out of this score |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | Senior author's record not available — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | — / 3 | No institution listed in OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Multi-centre collaboration | — / 3 | Institutions not listed — left out of this score |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 19428962) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 21 / 58 | Scored on 11 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 21 of the 58 points we could judge it on is 36 out of 100. |
| Total | 36 / 100 | — |
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APA 7th
van der Most, P. J., Dolga, A. M., Nijholt, I. M., Luiten, P. G., & Eisel, U. L. (2009). Statins: mechanisms of neuroprotection. Progress in neurobiology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pneurobio.2009.02.002
Vancouver
van der Most PJ, Dolga AM, Nijholt IM, Luiten PG, Eisel UL. Statins: mechanisms of neuroprotection. Progress in neurobiology. 2009. doi:10.1016/j.pneurobio.2009.02.002. PMID: 19428962.
BibTeX
@article{vandermost2009-19428962,
author = {van der Most, P. J. and Dolga, A. M. and Nijholt, I. M. and Luiten, P. G. and Eisel, U. L.},
title = {{Statins: mechanisms of neuroprotection}},
journal = {Progress in neurobiology},
year = {2009},
doi = {10.1016/j.pneurobio.2009.02.002},
pmid = {19428962},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pneurobio.2009.02.002}
}
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