The cholesterol-lowering drug, atorvastatin (AT) (i. e. Lipitor®) has been found to be effective in the treatment of spinal cord injuries after trauma.

The study which led to such a finding was headed by Inderjit Singh, Ph.D, of the Medical University of South Carolina.

...by using AT in treating spinal cord injuries after they have occurred, animal models with hind-limb paralysis showed significant functional recovery and less secondary tissue damage.

Scientists discovered that AT also protects the cells responsible for producing myelin, which insulates nerves, in the spinal cord.

Spinal cord injury is a major cause of disability. Currently, therapy of high dose steroids does little to alleviate the condition.

The study's findings, appearing in the April edition of Journal of Neurochemistry, offer a valuable tool in the preservation of neurological function and movement after spinal cord injuries.

Read the full report.

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