Epidemiological studies indicate that intake of statins decrease the risk of developing
Alzheimer disease. Cellular and in vivo studies suggested that statins might decrease the
generation of the amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) from the β-amyloid precursor protein. Here, we
show that statins potently stimulate the degradation of extracellular Aβ by microglia. The
statin-dependent clearance of extracellular Aβ is mainly exerted by insulin-degrading
enzyme (IDE) that is secreted in a nonconventional pathway in association with exosomes …