Statins, a drug used to lower bad cholesterol levels, would be effective in slowing the development of certain forms of multiple sclerosis(MS) according to the results of a scientific study published in the specialized journal The Lancet.
Researchers at University College London Hospitals conducted a double-blind study (neither the doctors nor the patients knew the composition of their treatment) with 140 participants at 3 neuroscience centers in the UK. The patients between the ages of 18 and 65 had secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, a debilitating disease for which no satisfactory treatment currently exists. They received either a placebo treatment or 80 mg of simvastatin. “Simvastatin (statin) which is widely used for the treatment of vascular disease has immunomodulatory and neuroprotective properties that could make it a candidate drug for patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis” says co-author Dr. Jeremy Chataway study.
Statins reduce brain atrophy
“In the progressive phase of MS the brain shrinks by about 0.6% per year. Our main measure of success was to reduce the rate of brain atrophy,’ says Dr Jeremy Chataway of University College London Hospitals, who led the study. “The objective was achieved since with statins, atrophy was only around 0.3%, a reduction of 43%”.
Despite conclusive results, the researchers point out that it is necessary to continue research on a larger number of controls to validate the efficacy and safety of this treatment.
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects between 70,000 and 90,000 people in France. Every year between 3000 and 5000 new cases are diagnosed, with a clear predominance in women. Difficulty walking, fatigue, weakness in the limbs, chronic pain are some of the symptoms of the disease.
