Cumulative effect of simvastatin, L-arginine, and tetrahydrobiopterin on cerebral blood flow and cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objectives

Vascular disease is a known risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Endothelial dysfunction has been linked to reduced cerebral blood flow. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase pathway (eNOS) upregulation is known to support endothelial health. This single-center, proof-of-concept study tested whether the use of three medications known to augment the eNOS pathway activity improves cognition and cerebral blood flow (CBF).

Methods

Subjects with mild AD or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) were sequentially treated with the HMG-CoA reductase synthesis inhibitor simvastatin (weeks 0-16), L-arginine (weeks 4-16), and tetrahydrobiopterin (weeks 8-16). The primary outcome of interest was the change in CBF as measured by MRI from baseline to week 16. Secondary

SUBMITTER: Degrush E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9482313 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature