EFFECTS OF CHOLESTEROL REDUCTION ON BEHAVIOR

在努力降低冠心病风险的过程中，国家 胆固醇教育计划建议所有美国人采取节食 限制胆固醇和脂肪的摄入。然而，潜在的影响是 降低胆固醇对患者幸福感和神经行为功能的影响 是未知的。因为这样的干预现在被推荐为国家健康 政策，努力发现任何重大的行为后遗症 胆固醇的改变显然是有必要的。其他理由： 降胆固醇对情绪和神经行为影响的研究 函数源自随机初选的定量评估 使用降胆固醇干预措施的预防试验， 表明这样的治疗与显著增加的 自杀、事故和暴力造成的死亡。其他初步报告 有证据还表明，降低血脂可能与 神经化学和行为障碍。因此，其目的是 拟议的研究是：(A)确定胆固醇是否 情绪降低与感知的健康、幸福感和 神经心理功能；及(B)探讨 降低胆固醇对情绪、行为和神经化学指标的影响(例如， 中枢神经系统5-羟色胺能活动)与负性情绪有关 (攻击性、抑郁)和冲动行为。我们建议进行 在治疗前和治疗期间进行行为和神经化学评估， 300名高胆固醇血症患者随机分配到一个有效的 降胆固醇治疗(洛伐他汀)或安慰剂。额外的100 具有理想(未经治疗)血清胆固醇水平的参与者将是 出于比较的目的进行类似的评估。

In an effort to reduce risk of coronary heart disease, the National Cholesterol Education Program advises all Americans to adopt diets restricting cholesterol and fat intake. However, the potential impact of cholesterol reduction on patient well-being and neurobehavioral functioning is unknown. As such intervention is now recommended as national health policy, efforts to detect any significant behavioral sequelae of cholesterol modification are clearly warranted. Additional rationale for studying effects of cholesterol reduction on mood and neurobehavioral function derives from quantitative evaluation of randomized primary prevention trials employing cholesterol-lowering interventions, which indicate that such treatment is associated with a significant increase in deaths attributable to suicides, accidents and violence. Other preliminary evidence also suggests that serum lipid reduction may be associated with neurochemical and behavioral disturbances. Accordingly, the purposes of the proposed study are: (a) to determine whether or not cholesterol lowering is associated with changes in perceived health, well-being and neuropsychological functioning; and (b) to explore potential effects of cholesterol reduction on mood, behavior and neurochemical indices (e.g., CNS serotonergic activity) relating specifically to negative affect (aggression, depression) and impulsive behavior. We propose to conduct behavioral and neurochemical assessments, prior to and during treatment, in 300 hypercholesterolemic individuals randomly assigned to a potent cholesterol-lowering therapy (lovastatin) or placebo. An additional 100 participants having desirable (untreated) serum cholesterol levels will be evaluated similarly for purposes of comparison.