A new study suggests that statins, which lower cholesterol, may also help fight multiple sclerosis by reducing inflammation.
The statins are very widely used to help lower cholesterol and so decrease the risk of heart disease. But doctors in Graz, Austria, now report on a potential new indication for the statins.

They have tested blood from 74 patients with multiple sclerosis and 25 healthy donors by adding a dose of a statin drug. The experiments show that the statin drugs tend to alter the concentrations of certain immune system molecules, giving rise to an anti-inflammatory effect. When added to the standard multiple sclerosis treatment, beta-interferon, the statins were even more effective.

This might be beneficial in multiple sclerosis, a disease of the nervous system thought to be auto-immune in origin. That is, the insulating layer of nerve fibres is eroded via an abnormal response of the immune system. It's not yet clear how the statins exert their anti-inflammatory effect. Much more research is needed to determine whether or not the statins may be able to help those with multiple sclerosis.