High cholesterol levels - associated with coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis - have also become an important risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease. Studies have shown that high levels of cholesterol results in the accumulation of beta amyloid within cells in culture and the brains of mice.
This project aims to assess the ability of the cholesterol lowering drug avasimibe (an ACAT inhibitor that has reached phase 3 human clinical trials for atherosclerosis) at reducing levels of beta amyloid and oxidative stress within the brains of a mouse model for Alzheimer's disease.
We will also assess the inhibitor's ability to improve memory in these mice.
This study will determine whether this inhibitor has value as a therapeutic agent for Alzheimer's disease.
McCUSKER