Long-term atorvastatin improves cognitive decline by regulating gut function in naturally ageing rats

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Immunology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Statins are widely used for cardiovascular disease prevention.
• Long-term effects of statins on cognitive function remain controversial.
• Investigating atorvastatin's impact on natural cognitive decline in aging rats.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of long-term atorvastatin administration on cognitive function in middle-aged rats.
• To elucidate the underlying mechanisms, focusing on the gut-brain axis.

Main Methods:

• Middle-aged rats received atorvastatin for 9 months.
• Cognitive function was assessed.
• Intestinal retinoic acid metabolism, T cell function, and gut microbiota were analyzed.
• Hippocampal IL-17 expression was measured.

Main Results:

• Long-term atorvastatin treatment improved cognitive function compared to controls.
• Atorvastatin altered intestinal retinoic acid metabolism by affecting Rdh7 expression.
• This modulated intestinal T cell proliferation and IL-17+γδ T cell function.
• Increased gut flora richness and decreased hippocampal IL-17 were observed.

Conclusions:

• Long-term atorvastatin intervention may prevent age-related cognitive decline in rats.
• The mechanism involves inhibiting neuroinflammation through the gut-brain axis.
• Findings highlight the role of gut microbiota and immune modulation in cognitive health.