Studies show that some medicines that lower cholesterol may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, but this has not yet been proven in humans. We are looking for individuals to participate in this study to see if a cholesterol-lowering medication, called simvastatin affects blood flow to the brain, blood vessel function and a substance in the spinal fluid related to the changes in Alzheimer's disease.
The SHARP study included 88 adults ages 40-72 with parental history of documented Alzheimer's disease. The study had 9 visits over the course of 18 months. Participants had fasting blood tests collected, completed a medical history questionnaire and medication side effect review, underwent lumbar puncture procedure, completed memory testing, and had ultrasound and MRI procedures. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either simvastatin or a placebo each night for 18 months.
