Statin Therapy Inhibits Remyelination in the Central Nervous System

[olsen]

http://ajp.amjpathol.org/cgi/content/abstract/ajpath.2009.080947v1

Am J Pathol. 2009 Apr 6.
Statin Therapy Inhibits Remyelination in the Central Nervous System. Miron VE, Zehntner SP, Kuhlmann T, Ludwin SK, Owens T, Kennedy TE, Bedell BJ, Antel JP.
Our findings suggest that simvastatin inhibits central nervous system remyelination by blocking progenitor differentiation, indicating the need to monitor effects of systemic immunotherapies that can access the central nervous system on brain tissue-repair processes.

[mrsD]

Here is a blog entry in plainer English (which I myself needed to fully grasp the seriousness of this new paper.)

http://bloodbrainbarrierblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/simvastatin-inhibits-remyelination.html

This not only suggests that relapsing/remitting MS patients should be carefully monitored while taking simvastatin (if they should be taking it at all in the first place), but that long-term treatment with simvastatin could have profound effects on the CNS. This should definitely temper the enthusiasm expressed by the American Academy of Pediatrics last year for giving statins to children as young as eight years old.

Simvastatin was used because it is more fat soluble and hence gets into the brain in higher amounts than some of the other statins.

[pcaracc]

Thank you for posting this. It makes a huge difference as it's hard for all of us to stay up on medical research and journals. PC

[Musecalnomore]

Hi I am new to the community. I have dx of statin induced necrotising myopathy.

Just read the post on Statin therapy.
What is remyelination in the Central Nerv.System.

Thanks for an answer to the question. :confused:

[mrsD]

When the myelin sheath that insulates nerves becomes damaged, then the body may be able to repair it. Given that some nutrients are available, etc.

Statins block this repair action, it appears now.