Summary
Atorvastatin has reached the approved stage (maximum clinical phase 4) for at least one indication, so its use in Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias would be drug repurposing rather than first-in-human development. This does not mean it is approved for Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias. No registered clinical trial in this database tests Atorvastatin specifically in Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias. The evidence below comes from published literature only, so any clinical signal has not yet been tested prospectively against this condition in a registered study. The literature layer holds 10 publications for this pair: 3 Cochrane reviews, 1 meta-analysis, 1 systematic review and 5 clinical trial publications. Publication years run from 2006 to 2024. Because at least one synthesis-level source exists (systematic review, meta-analysis or Cochrane review), this pair has been assessed beyond single studies, although the synthesis may concern a different indication.
The RepurpOS disease-intelligence file for Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias ranks 705 candidate therapeutics from Open Targets, ChEMBL, DGIdb and PubMed; only a minority carry direct clinical evidence, and this page covers one of those. Spontaneous remission context recorded for the condition: Progressive and irreversible by definition; MMSE decline 1.07-3.4 points/year untreated; no spontaneous remission.
Evidence table
| Evidence tier | A · Strong |
|---|---|
| Evidence score | 50.0 (trials 0.0, literature 30.0, tier 15, approved bonus 5.0) |
| Registered trials | 0 total: 0 recruiting, 0 active / not yet recruiting, 0 completed, 0 other |
| Linked publications | 10 (5 clinical trial publications, 3 Cochrane reviews, 1 meta-analysis, 1 systematic review) |
| Agent type | Drug (Small molecule) |
| Development stage (any indication) | Approved |
| Mechanism / class | Not recorded |
| Data sources | DGIdb |
| Linked via biomarker / target | ABCA1 |
How the evidence score is calculated
- Each registered trial scores by status (recruiting / active / enrolling 3, completed 2.5, not yet recruiting 2, unknown 1, terminated / withdrawn / suspended 0.5) plus a phase bonus (phase 3-4 +2, phase 2 +1, phase 1 +0.5). The trial component is capped at 30.
- Each literature item scores by design (Cochrane review 5, meta-analysis 4, systematic review 3, RCT 3, clinical trial publication 2, curated reference 1.5, other PubMed record 1). The literature component is capped at 30.
- The existing evidence tier adds 15 (A / Strong), 10 (B / Moderate), 5 (C / Preliminary) or 0 (D / Anecdotal).
- Agents approved for any indication (max clinical phase 4) add 5, because an approved agent has an established safety profile that lowers the barrier to repurposing trials.
- The score ranks what has been studied, not what works. It does not read effect sizes or directions of effect.
Registered clinical trials
No registered trial links Atorvastatin to Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias in the current OSMF trial extract.
Published literature
- Cochrane review Effect of long-term pharmacological treatments on Alzheimer disease: A systematic review and network meta-analysisDeng X, Li D · Medicine · 2024 · PMID 39312316
- Meta-analysis The calcium-free form of atorvastatin inhibits amyloid-β(1-42) aggregation in vitroNedaei H, Rezaei-Ghaleh N, Giller K et al. · The Journal of biological chemistry · 2022 · PMID 35104501
- Systematic review Alzheimer's Disease: Efficacy of Mono- and Combination Therapy. A Systematic ReviewKnorz AL, Quante A · Journal of geriatric psychiatry and neurology · 2022 · PMID 34476990
- Clinical trial publication Atorvastatin May Correct Dyslipidemia in Adult Patients at Risk for Alzheimer's Disease Through an Anti-Inflammatory PathwayZhao L, Zhao Q, Zhou Y et al. · CNS & neurological disorders drug targets · 2016 · PMID 26666876
- Clinical trial publication Effects of atorvastatin on cerebral blood flow in middle-aged adults at risk for Alzheimer's disease: a pilot studyCarlsson CM, Xu G, Wen Z et al. · Current Alzheimer research · 2012 · PMID 22175654
- Clinical trial publication Randomized controlled trial of atorvastatin in mild to moderate Alzheimer disease: LEADeFeldman HH, Doody RS, Kivipelto M et al. · Neurology · 2010 · PMID 20200346
- Cochrane review Statins for the treatment of dementiaMcGuinness B, O'Hare J, Craig D et al. · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2010 · PMID 20687089
- Cochrane review Statins for the prevention of dementiaMcGuinness B, Craig D, Bullock R et al. · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2009 · PMID 19370582
- Clinical trial publication The Atorvastatin/Donepezil in Alzheimer's Disease Study (LEADe): design and baseline characteristicsJones RW, Kivipelto M, Feldman H et al. · Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association · 2008 · PMID 18631958
- Clinical trial publication Change in circulating C-reactive protein is not associated with atorvastatin treatment in Alzheimer's diseaseStankovic G, Sparks DL · Neurological research · 2006 · PMID 16945213
Mechanism and notes
No mechanism of action is recorded for this pair in the source databases.
OSMF's existing evidence tier for this pair is A (Strong), derived from the strength of the disease association recorded in DGIdb, in this case via the biomarker or target ABCA1. The tier describes how well the drug-disease link is documented, not how well the drug works.
Frequently asked questions
Is Atorvastatin approved for Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias?
Atorvastatin has reached the approved stage (maximum clinical phase 4) for at least one indication, so its use in Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias would be drug repurposing rather than first-in-human development. This does not mean it is approved for Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias. Approval status for the specific indication should always be confirmed with the relevant regulator and prescribing information.
Is Atorvastatin in clinical trials for Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias?
No registered clinical trial in this database tests Atorvastatin specifically in Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias. The evidence below comes from published literature only, so any clinical signal has not yet been tested prospectively against this condition in a registered study.
What does the evidence show for Atorvastatin in Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias?
Synthesis-level literature links Atorvastatin to Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, but no registered trial in this database tests the pair, so the evidence is observational, pooled from other indications, or pre-dates registry practice. OSMF's existing evidence tier for this pair is A (Strong), derived from the strength of the disease association recorded in DGIdb, in this case via the biomarker or target ABCA1. The tier describes how well the drug-disease link is documented, not how well the drug works.
Cite this page
Data: ClinicalTrials.gov, PubMed, Open Targets, ChEMBL, DGIdb and the OSMF therapeutic agent database. Last updated 2026-07-05. Page built 2026-10-07.