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Immunity & Ageing
Published in: Immunity & Ageing 1/2022

Open Access 01-12-2022 | Atorvastatin | Research

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

Authors: Tian-Ce Xu, Yan Lv, Quan-Ying Liu, Hui-Sheng Chen

Published in: Immunity & Ageing | Issue 1/2022

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Abstract

Background

Statins have been widely used to prevent cardiovascular disease in middle-aged and elderly populations; however, the effect of long-term treatment on cognitive function is controversial. To simulate clinical conditions, middle-aged rats were given atorvastatin for 9 consecutive months to investigate the effect on natural cognitive decline and the possible mechanisms.

Results

The results showed that compared with the control group, long-term atorvastatin treatment naturally improved cognitive decline. Furthermore, long-term treatment regulated intestinal retinoic acid (RA) metabolism and storage by altering retinol dehydrogenase 7 (Rdh7) expression in the intestine, while RA metabolism affected the proliferation of intestinal Treg cells and inhibited IL-17+γδ T-cell function. In addition, long-term atorvastatin increased intestinal flora richness and decreased IL-17 expression in hippocampal tissue.

Conclusion

Collectively, these findings provide the first evidence that long-term atorvastatin intervention may prevent cognitive decline in naturally ageing rats by inhibiting neuroinflammation via the gut-brain axis.
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Metadata
Title
Long-term atorvastatin improves cognitive decline by regulating gut function in naturally ageing rats
Authors
Tian-Ce Xu
Yan Lv
Quan-Ying Liu
Hui-Sheng Chen
Publication date
01-12-2022
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Immunity & Ageing / Issue 1/2022
Electronic ISSN: 1742-4933
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12979-022-00311-x

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