Tau is reduced in AD plasma and validation of employed ELISA methods.

Objective: Measure total tau levels in the circulation of living humans, validate the methods employed and determine if there are consistent differences in total tau levels between normal controls and individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and/or Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods: Employing ELISA methods, validated by Western bolts using three separate tau antibodies, we quantified total tau levels in serially collected serum and plasma samples from individuals longitudinally evaluated for cognitive performance.

Results: We identified substantial levels of tau in human circulation using plasma, but not serum.

Atorvastatin therapy lowers circulating cholesterol but not free radical activity in advance of identifiable clinical benefit in the treatment of mild-to-moderate AD.

Cholesterol-induced production of amyloid beta (Abeta) as a putative neurotoxin in Alzheimer's disease (AD), along with epidemiological evidence, suggests that statin drugs may provide benefit in treatment of the disorder. We tested the effect of once daily atorvastatin calcium (80 mg; two 40 mg tablets) on cognitive and/or behavioral decline in patients with mild-to-moderate AD. The study was designed as a pilot intention-to-treat, proof-of-concept, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized (1:1) trial with a 1-year exposure to study medication employing last-observation-carried-forward (LOCF) ANCOVA as the primary statistical method of assessment.

Atorvastatin for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer disease: preliminary results.

Background: Laboratory evidence of cholesterol-induced production of amyloid beta as a putative neurotoxin precipitating Alzheimer disease, along with epidemiological evidence, suggests that cholesterol-lowering statin drugs may favorably influence the progression of the disorder.

Objective: To determine if treatment with atorvastatin calcium affects the cognitive and/or behavioral decline in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease.

Design: Pilot intention-to-treat, proof-of-concept, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized (1:1) trial with a 1-year exposure to once-daily atorvastatin calcium (80 mg; two 40-mg tablets) or placebo using last observation carried forward analysis of covariance as the primary method of statistical assessment.