Atorvastatin and ischemic stroke: Mechanisms and therapeutic applications

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability, affecting approximately 13.7 million people worldwide and causing 5.5 million deaths annually. Effective treatment options for ischemic stroke are still limited and existing clinical interventions have limitations such as the time window for treatment. Therefore, research is needed to find complementary therapies that can reduce the complications of stroke or prevent its occurrence. Atorvastatin is an oral medication used to lower lipid levels via competitive inhibition of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase, which results in decreased cholesterol production. Much evidence demonstrates the effectiveness of atorvastatin in stroke but few studies have specifically examined its neuroprotective effects and the underlying mechanisms. This review focuses on the neuroprotective actions of atorvastatin in preclinical and clinical studies and provides an updated discussion on molecular mechanisms contributing to these possible effects in ischemic stroke. We hope that this review will help readers gain a better understanding of the roles of atorvastatin in cerebral ischemic stroke and provide more comprehensive insights for basic research and novel strategies for the treatment of patients with stroke.