| Problem: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a growing epidemic affecting millions of people worldwide. Unfortunately, without any known preventative measures or effective treatment measures, this epidemic is predicted to continue to grow exponentially. There have been numerous studies exploring whether there is a relationship between elevated serum lipid levels and AD, but the results have been inconclusive. Methods: PubMed was searched via the Weill Cornell Medical College Library online to search for clinical trials, published within the past ten years, that utilized human subjects, which explored the relationship between serum cholesterol levels and AD dementia. Results: The results from the literature reviewed showed a statistically significant relationship between dyslipidemia and AD dementia. Other trials showed efficacy of early use of statin drug therapy in possibly delaying the onset and reducing the risk of developing AD. Conclusion: With the increasing prevalence of AD within our society, multiple long-term prospective studies are needed to determine both the efficacy of statin therapy on delaying onset or reducing risk of AD and the relationship between hyperlipidemia and the development of AD dementia. The purpose of this scholarly literature review is to accurately summarize the data published thus far regarding possible relationship between AD and dyslipidemia, inflammation, genetic mutations, and statin therapy. Future studies are necessary to help us better understand the pathophysiology behind AD and the role elevated serum cholesterol could have on the microvasculature within the brain. |
