Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Less Cholesterol, More Brains!
Drugs have side effects. Drowsiness, nausea, diarrhea, anxiety, and, in the case of the cholesterol-lowering drug lovastatin, possibly improved learning and memory. The FDA has approved trials of lovastatin for the congenital learning disability Neurofibromatosis type I (NF1), and researchers hope that the drug will be helpful for other learning and memory problems as well.
It seems to act to lower the overproduction of Ras in NF1, improving intercellular communications and reducing the effects of the disability. Though it's not clearly involved, this means that lovastatin could be a helpful for other LD's as well. Cool!
It seems to act to lower the overproduction of Ras in NF1, improving intercellular communications and reducing the effects of the disability. Though it's not clearly involved, this means that lovastatin could be a helpful for other LD's as well. Cool!
