Cholesterol Lowering Agent to Slow Progression (CLASP) of Alzheimer's Disease Study

CLASP is a research study to investigate the safety and effectiveness of simvastatin (a cholesterol lowering drug or statin) to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Statins are commonly used to treat high cholesterol levels, which increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

In earlier studies in animals and humans, researchers found that lowering cholesterol levels with statins seems to have a positive impact on brain function and reduces the risk of AD. The CLASP trial will test the link between using a cholesterol lowering medication and slowing disease progress in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD).

CLASP is a research study to investigate the safety and effectiveness of simvastatin (a cholesterol lowering drug or statin) to slow the progression of AD. The clinical trial will include the treatment of patients with mild to moderate AD, and the objective is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of simvastatin to slow the progression of AD, as measured by the cognitive portion of the AD Assessment Scale. Measures of clinical global change (ADCS-CGIC), mental status, functional ability, behavioral disturbances, quality of life and economic indicators will be made also. The study design is randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group design with equal randomization to drug and placebo. Randomization will be stratified and blocked to ensure balanced assignment within site. Sample size will include 400 participants enrolled from approximately 40 sites with a goal of 10 to 15 volunteers enrolled at each site. Study medication will be as follows: 20 mg of simvastatin or matching placebo to be given for 6 weeks, followed by 40 mg of simvastatin or matching placebo for the remainder of the 18-month study period. Participants will be instructed to take the medication once a day in the evening. Safety parameters to be checked will include adverse events, symptom checklists, vital signs, physical and neurological examinations, and laboratory tests.

Eligibility Criteria:
* Mild to moderate patients with AD who are free of life-threatening disease and who do not require lipid-lowering treatment according to current guidelines.
* NINCDS/ADRDA criteria for probable AD.
* Mini-Mental-State-Exam (MMSE) score between 12 and 26.
* Stable medical condition for 3 months prior to the screening visit.
* Age greater than or equal to 50 years, and no upper age limit.
* Lives in a community dwelling, not in a nursing home.
* Stable doses of (non-excluded) medications with central nervous system activity for 4 weeks prior to the screening visit.
* Physical condition acceptable for the study as confirmed by medical history, physical exam, neurologic exam and clinical laboratory tests.
* Informant/study partner available and willing to accompany participant to all scheduled visits and complete informant-based assessments and to supervise administration of study medications.
* Fluent in English or Spanish.
* Modified Hachinski is less than or equal to 4.

Exclusion criteria:

* Coronary heart disease (CHD) including angina, or peripheral vascular disease including symptomatic carotid artery disease, or stroke or TIA, as these individuals are likely to require treatment with lipid-lowering drugs.
* Serious renal disease.
* Uncontrolled diabetes.
* Triglycerides are greater than 500 mg/dL.
* LDL-Cholesterol below 80 mg/dL
* Upper limit for the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) guidelines for LDL-Cholesterol is 130-190 mg/dL, depending on age and other cardiovascular risk factors.
* Other indication for the need to treat with lipid-lowering drug.
* Active liver disease or persistent elevation in serum transaminase.
* Active neoplastic disease (skin tumors other than melanoma are not exclusionary; subjects with stable prostate cancer may be included at the discretion of the Project Director).
* Use of another investigational agent within 2 months of the screening visit.
* History of clinically significant stroke.
* Current evidence or history in the past 2 years of seizures, head injury with loss of consciousness and/or immediate confusion after the injury.
* Current DSM-IV criteria based diagnosis for major psychiatric disorder including psychosis, major depression, bipolar disorder, alcohol or substance abuse.
* Blindness, deafness, language difficulties or any other disability which may prevent the subject from participating or cooperating in the protocol.