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.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL046328-04
Application #
2222818
Study Section
Behavioral Medicine Study Section (BEM)
Project Start
1992-02-01
Project End
1997-01-31
Budget Start
1995-02-01
Budget End
1996-01-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1995
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pittsburgh
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
053785812
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15213
Conklin, Sarah M; Harris, Jennifer I; Manuck, Stephen B et al. (2007) Serum omega-3 fatty acids are associated with variation in mood, personality and behavior in hypercholesterolemic community volunteers. Psychiatry Res 152:1-10
Conklin, Sarah M; Gianaros, Peter J; Brown, Sarah M et al. (2007) Long-chain omega-3 fatty acid intake is associated positively with corticolimbic gray matter volume in healthy adults. Neurosci Lett 421:209-12
Harris, Jennifer I; Hibbeln, Joseph R; Mackey, Rachel H et al. (2004) Statin treatment alters serum n-3 and n-6 fatty acids in hypercholesterolemic patients. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 71:263-9
Stilley, Carol S; Sereika, Susan; Muldoon, Matthew F et al. (2004) Psychological and cognitive function: predictors of adherence with cholesterol lowering treatment. Ann Behav Med 27:117-24
Muldoon, Matthew F; Ryan, Christopher M; Sereika, Susan M et al. (2004) Randomized trial of the effects of simvastatin on cognitive functioning in hypercholesterolemic adults. Am J Med 117:823-9
Muldoon, Matthew F; Mackey, Rachel H; Williams, Katherine V et al. (2004) Low central nervous system serotonergic responsivity is associated with the metabolic syndrome and physical inactivity. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 89:266-71
Manuck, Stephen B; Flory, Janine D; Ferrell, Robert E et al. (2004) Socio-economic status covaries with central nervous system serotonergic responsivity as a function of allelic variation in the serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region. Psychoneuroendocrinology 29:651-68
Flory, Janine D; Manuck, Stephen B; Matthews, Karen A et al. (2004) Serotonergic function in the central nervous system is associated with daily ratings of positive mood. Psychiatry Res 129:11-9
Flory, Janine D; Manuck, Stephen B; Perel, James M et al. (2004) A comparison of d, l-fenfluramine and citalopram challenges in healthy adults. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 174:376-80
Stocker, Sean D; Muldoon, Matthew F; Sved, Alan F (2003) Blunted fenfluramine-evoked prolactin secretion in hypertensive rats. Hypertension 42:719-24

Showing the most recent 10 out of 29 publications