The Effects of Statins on Neurotransmission and Their Neuroprotective Role in Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders
Statins are among the most widely used drug classes in the world. Apart from their basic mechanism of action, which is lowering cholesterol levels, many pleiotropic effects have been described so far, such as anti-inflammatory and antiatherosclerotic effects. A growing number of scientific reports h...
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2021-05-01
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| author | Michał Kosowski Joanna Smolarczyk-Kosowska Marcin Hachuła Mateusz Maligłówka Marcin Basiak Grzegorz Machnik Robert Pudlo Bogusław Okopień |
| author_facet | Michał Kosowski Joanna Smolarczyk-Kosowska Marcin Hachuła Mateusz Maligłówka Marcin Basiak Grzegorz Machnik Robert Pudlo Bogusław Okopień |
| author_sort | Michał Kosowski |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Statins are among the most widely used drug classes in the world. Apart from their basic mechanism of action, which is lowering cholesterol levels, many pleiotropic effects have been described so far, such as anti-inflammatory and antiatherosclerotic effects. A growing number of scientific reports have proven that these drugs have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the nervous system. The first reports proving that lipid-lowering therapy can influence the development of neurological and psychiatric diseases appeared in the 1990s. Despite numerous studies about the mechanisms by which statins may affect the functioning of the central nervous system (CNS), there are still no clear data explaining this effect. Most studies have focused on the metabolic effects of this group of drugs, however authors have also described the pleiotropic effects of statins, pointing to their probable impact on the neurotransmitter system and neuroprotective effects. The aim of this paper was to review the literature describing the impacts of statins on dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, and glutamate neurotransmission, as well as their neuroprotective role. This paper focuses on the mechanisms by which statins affect neurotransmission, as well as on their impacts on neurological and psychiatric diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), vascular dementia (VD), stroke, and depression. The pleiotropic effects of statin usage could potentially open floodgates for research in these treatment domains, catching the attention of researchers and clinicians across the globe. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:32:37Z |
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| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:32:37Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-5a8a9cf0fb7e4b449fd794db4018cc7d2023-11-21T19:07:04ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492021-05-012610283810.3390/molecules26102838The Effects of Statins on Neurotransmission and Their Neuroprotective Role in Neurological and Psychiatric DisordersMichał Kosowski0Joanna Smolarczyk-Kosowska1Marcin Hachuła2Mateusz Maligłówka3Marcin Basiak4Grzegorz Machnik5Robert Pudlo6Bogusław Okopień7Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 18, 40-752 Katowice, PolandDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, 40-055 Katowice, PolandDepartment of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 18, 40-752 Katowice, PolandDepartment of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 18, 40-752 Katowice, PolandDepartment of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 18, 40-752 Katowice, PolandDepartment of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 18, 40-752 Katowice, PolandDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, 40-055 Katowice, PolandDepartment of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 18, 40-752 Katowice, PolandStatins are among the most widely used drug classes in the world. Apart from their basic mechanism of action, which is lowering cholesterol levels, many pleiotropic effects have been described so far, such as anti-inflammatory and antiatherosclerotic effects. A growing number of scientific reports have proven that these drugs have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the nervous system. The first reports proving that lipid-lowering therapy can influence the development of neurological and psychiatric diseases appeared in the 1990s. Despite numerous studies about the mechanisms by which statins may affect the functioning of the central nervous system (CNS), there are still no clear data explaining this effect. Most studies have focused on the metabolic effects of this group of drugs, however authors have also described the pleiotropic effects of statins, pointing to their probable impact on the neurotransmitter system and neuroprotective effects. The aim of this paper was to review the literature describing the impacts of statins on dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, and glutamate neurotransmission, as well as their neuroprotective role. This paper focuses on the mechanisms by which statins affect neurotransmission, as well as on their impacts on neurological and psychiatric diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), vascular dementia (VD), stroke, and depression. The pleiotropic effects of statin usage could potentially open floodgates for research in these treatment domains, catching the attention of researchers and clinicians across the globe.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/10/2838dopamineacetylcholineglutamateBDNFserotoninneurotransmitters |
| spellingShingle | Michał Kosowski Joanna Smolarczyk-Kosowska Marcin Hachuła Mateusz Maligłówka Marcin Basiak Grzegorz Machnik Robert Pudlo Bogusław Okopień The Effects of Statins on Neurotransmission and Their Neuroprotective Role in Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders Molecules dopamine acetylcholine glutamate BDNF serotonin neurotransmitters |
| title | The Effects of Statins on Neurotransmission and Their Neuroprotective Role in Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders |
| title_full | The Effects of Statins on Neurotransmission and Their Neuroprotective Role in Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders |
| title_fullStr | The Effects of Statins on Neurotransmission and Their Neuroprotective Role in Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effects of Statins on Neurotransmission and Their Neuroprotective Role in Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders |
| title_short | The Effects of Statins on Neurotransmission and Their Neuroprotective Role in Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders |
| title_sort | effects of statins on neurotransmission and their neuroprotective role in neurological and psychiatric disorders |
| topic | dopamine acetylcholine glutamate BDNF serotonin neurotransmitters |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/10/2838 |
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