Statin Drugs May Help Treat MS

posted on Apr 16 by Admin in the Disability News, Multiple Sclerosis category

Preliminary studies show statin drugs, such as Lipitor, may be effective in helping to treat multiple sclerosis (MS). Statins are currently used to help lower cholesterol. Study leader Scott Zamvil, MD, PhD,  says that they “have anti-inflammatory effects on immune cells as well, which is why we figured they could be beneficial in MS.” He is the associate professor of neurology at the University of California, San Francisco.

According to WebMD, “MS is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s own immune cells mistakenly recognize cells in the brain and spinal cord as foreign and attack them. This leaves behind scars or lesions and disrupts the ability of nerves to transmit information, resulting in disability.”

The results of the study showed 50% reduction of new lesions on the brain of participants in the early stage of MS taking the Lipitor, compared to the placebo. New lesions usually are strong indicators of future MS attacks. This study was presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology. Further studies have not been done yet due to lack of eligible participants. The development of new drugs to help treat MS, like cladribine and fingolimod, pose the question if statins as strategy will be needed. Some researchers think it is definitely an avenue worth paying attention to and not something to ignore.