Typically, the treatment for statin memory loss is to stop the statin, and
then supplement with 800-1,2000mg Coenzyme Q10 per day.

You need to ask the world expert, Dr. Golomb, the question on response to
Exelon.  I urge you to email or call the UCSD Statin Study, a National
Institutes of Health
(NIH) funded study immediately.
http://medicine.ucsd.edu/statin/contactinfo.html.

Low cholesterol, by the way, is associated with violence and hostility, see
the Frequently Asked Questions below:

Statin Adverse Effects FAQ: Low Cholesterol and Aggression, Violence, Crime,
Depression, Suicide Attempts

Several published medical studies have found that low cholesterol levels
have a direct correlation with mood and behavior, particularly aggression,
violence, crime, depression, and/or suicide attempts.

Findings include:

·        The authors concluded that, among
non-African-American children, low total cholesterol is associated with
school suspension or expulsion and that low total cholesterol may be a risk
factor for aggression or a risk marker for other biologic variables that
predispose to aggression.

·        A significant increase in SERT (Serotonin transporter) activity was
detected only during the first month of simvastatin therapy. This finding
suggests that within this period some patients could be vulnerable to
depression, violence, or suicide.

·        This paper reviews early biological risk factors for violence.
These factors include . low cholesterol. A biopsychosocial violence mode is
proposed.

·        The results suggest that total cholesterol level may be a useful
biological marker for the risk of suicide in depression patients.

·        The results indicated that medication-free schizophrenic patients
have statistically significant lower serum cholesterol and leptin levels
compared with controls and the difference is obvious in suicide attempters
compared with non-suicide attempters and in violent attempters than
non-violent attempters.

·        Patients with a violent suicidal attempt have significantly lower
cholesterol levels than patients with non-violent attempts and the control
subjects. Our findings suggest that suicide attempts should not be
considered a homogeneous group. They are consistent with the theory that low
levels of cholesterol are associated with increased tendency for impulsive
behavior and aggression and contribute to a more violent pattern of suicidal
behavior.

·        . The TC (low total serum cholesterol) level seems to be a
peripheral marker with prognostic value among boys with conduct disorder and
antisocial male offenders.

·        Our results confirm previous reports of lower serum cholesterol in
attempted suicide. They are also indicative of an increased noradrenaline
turnover in subjects who attempt suicide, at least within 24 hours after the
attempt. Whether this activation precedes or follows the attempt because of
the specific stress, can not be answered at present.

·        Low cholesterol may effect serotonergic neuronal activity and some
types of 5-HT receptors, then may be related to violent behavior during
sleep.

·        These findings are consistent with the cholesterol-serotonin
hypothesis and with the substantive literature linking both aggression and
depression to depressed central serotonergic activity.

·        Adjusting for other factors, low cholesterol is associated with
increased subsequent criminal violence.

·        These findings suggest the possibility that serum cholesterol
levels may be positively associated with serotonergic receptor function. The
existence of such an association may provide an explanation for reported
increases in depression, suicide and violence in individuals with low or
lowered cholesterol.

·        Our results showed that low serum cholesterol level is associated
with the violence of the suicide attempt and not with the suicide attempt
itself. Further investigations are necessary to determine the usefulness of
this easily accessible parameter as a potential risk indicator for violent
acts such as violent suicidal behavior in susceptible individuals.

·        Men with a lower cholesterol level (< or =4.5 mmol/liter) have a
higher prevalence of depressive symptoms than those with a cholesterol level
between 6 and 7 mmol/liter. These data may be important in the ongoing
debate on the putative association between low cholesterol levels and
violent death.

Some relatively recent full abstracts:

http://aje.oupjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/161/7/691

Association of Serum Cholesterol and History of School Suspension among
School-age Children and Adolescents in the United States
Jian Zhang1, Matthew F. Muldoon2, Robert E. McKeown3 and Steven P. Cuffe4
1 Division of Health and Family Studies, Institute for Families in Society,
University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
2 Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Pittsburgh School of
Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
3 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public
Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
4 Department of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Science, Division of Child
and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of South Carolina School of Medicine,
Columbia, SC
Correspondence to Dr. Jian Zhang, 4770 Buford Highway, MS K-24, Atlanta, GA
30341 (e-mail: bvw2@cdc.gov).
The dietary guidelines developed for adults have been extended to children,
but the role of serum cholesterol in the neurodevelopment of children is
poorly understood. In the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination
Survey (1988-1994), serum total cholesterol was measured in 4,852 children
aged 6-16 years. Psychosocial development was evaluated by interviewing the
mother regarding the child's history of school suspension or expulsion and
difficulty in getting along with others. After adjustment for family
socioeconomic status, maternal marital status and education, children's
nutrition, and academic performance, the odds ratios of children with
various concentrations of total cholesterol showed the children to be
equally comfortable in their own peer subculture and not to be different in
the proportion that had seen a mental health professional. However,
non-African-American children with a serum total cholesterol concentration
below the 25th percentile (<145 mg/dl) were almost threefold more likely to
have been suspended or expelled from schools than their peers with total
cholesterol at or above the 25th percentile (odds ratio = 2.96, 95%
confidence interval: 1.55, 5.64). The authors concluded that, among
non-African-American children, low total cholesterol is associated with
school suspension or expulsion and that low total cholesterol may be a risk
factor for aggression or a risk marker for other biologic variables that
predispose to aggression.
---
adolescent psychology; child psychology; cholesterol; juvenile delinquency;
United States
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; DISC, Dietary Intervention Study in
Children; NHANES III, Third National Health and Nutrition Examination
Survey; STRIP, Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project;
WRAT-R, Wide Range Achievement Test, Revised

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstra
ct&list_uids=15740995

Psychiatry Res. 2005 Feb 28;133(2-3):197-203.

Cholesterol-lowering therapy evokes time-limited changes in serotonergic
transmission.
Vevera J, Fisar Z, Kvasnicka T, Zdenek H, Starkova L, Ceska R, Papezova H.
Psychiatric Clinic, First Faculty of Medicine of Charles University, Ke
Karlovu 11, 120 00 Prague, Czech Republic; School of Public Health,
University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
A number of studies have reported an increased risk for violent deaths and
depression in subjects with reduced serum cholesterol concentrations. Links
with hypothesized impairment of serotonin neurotransmission have not been
satisfactorily tested. In this investigation, the serum and membrane
cholesterol, microviscosity of erythrocyte membranes, platelet serotonin
uptake, and clinical parameters were determined during pharmacotherapy of 17
hypercholesterolemic patients. A significant decrease in serum cholesterol
and a nonsignificant decrease in membrane cholesterol concentration were
found after 2 months of simvastatin therapy. Serotonin transporter (SERT)
activity was significantly increased following 1 month of simvastatin; the
tendency to decrease the initial increase in SERT activity was evident
following 2 months of therapy. Both membrane cholesterol and SERT activity
returned to pre-treatment levels after more than 1 year of therapy.
Microviscosity of plasma membranes, impulsivity, empathy, adventure,
sensation seeking, and depressed mood were not markedly changed. These data
indicate that long-term therapy has different effects on serotonin
transmission from short-term (1- to 2-month) therapy. A significant increase
in SERT activity was detected only during the first month of simvastatin
therapy. This finding suggests that within this period some patients could
be vulnerable to depression, violence, or suicide.
PMID: 15740995 [PubMed - in process]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstra
ct&list_uids=15680620

Int J Nurs Stud. 2005 Feb;42(2):229-41.

Biosocial bases of aggressive and violent behavior--implications for nursing
studies.
Liu J, Wuerker A.
Social Science Research Institute, University of Southern California, Los
Angeles, CA 90089-0375, USA. jianghol@usc.edu
Although aggression and violence have been increasingly viewed as a major
public health problem with a biological and health basis, it has been
under-researched in the nursing and health context. This paper reviews early
biological risk factors for violence. These factors include pregnancy/birth
complications, fetal exposure to nicotine, alcohol, and drugs, low
cholesterol, malnutrition, lead and manganese exposure, head injuries and
brain dysfunction, low arousal, low serotonin, low cortisol, and high
testosterone. A biopsychosocial violence mode is proposed. Finally, the
paper argues that nursing is ideally placed to develop a new body of
knowledge based on a biosocial perspective that can lead to more effective
prevention programs for violence.
PMID: 15680620 [PubMed - in process]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstra
ct&list_uids=15306143

J Affect Disord. 2004 Aug;81(2):161-6.

Clinical application of low serum cholesterol as an indicator for suicide
risk in major depression.
Kim YK, Myint AM.
Department of Psychiatry, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South
Korea. yongku@korea.ac.kr
BACKGROUND: Serum total cholesterol is reported to be associated with
suicidality and violence. We explored the clinical applicability of low
serum total cholesterol as an indicator for suicide risk in major
depression. METHOD: We measured the serum cholesterol levels in 149 major
depressive disorder patients admitted to an emergency room following a
suicide attempt, in 149 non-suicidal depressive controls, and in 251 normal
controls. RESULTS: Significant differences in total serum cholesterol levels
were observed between the suicide patients and non-suicide depression
patients and between violent suicide patients and non-violent suicide
patients when age, sex, BMI and total serum protein levels were controlled.
The cutoff point of 180 mg/dl gave a high sensitivity (82%), and the cutoff
point 150 mg/dl gave a high specificity (72%). These points can be used as
discriminative cutoffs between suicidal and non-suicidal depressive
patients. LIMITATIONS: A longitudinal study is necessary to confirm the
clinical applicability of serum cholesterol as a predictive indicator of
suicide risk in depression. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that total
cholesterol level may be a useful biological marker for the risk of suicide
in depression patients.
PMID: 15306143 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstra
ct&list_uids=12890276

Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2003 Sep;108(3):208-14.

Serum leptin and cholesterol levels in schizophrenic patients with and
without suicide attempts.
Atmaca M, Kuloglu M, Tezcan E, Ustundag B.
Departments of Psychiatry and Clinical Biochemistry, Firat University,
School of Medicine, Elazig, Turkey. matmaca_p@yahoo.com
OBJECTIVE: Previous studies demonstrate a relationship between lipid
metabolism and suicide or impulsive-aggressive behaviours. Leptin seems to
be related with lipid metabolism. Therefore, the aim was to measure total
serum cholesterol and leptin levels in 16 medication-free schizophrenic
patients with and without suicide attempts and in 16 healthy controls.
METHOD: Subjects were assessed by using Impulsivity Rating (IRS) and
Modified Overt Aggression Scale (MOAS). RESULTS: The patients had lower
total cholesterol and leptin levels in serum compared with the controls.
Significantly lower total cholesterol and leptin levels were observed in
patients who had attempted suicide compared with those who had not. The
levels were observed to be low in violent attempters when compared with
non-violent attempters. MOAS and IRS scores were negatively correlated with
both cholesterol or leptin levels in patients. CONCLUSION: The results
indicated that medication-free schizophrenic patients have statistically
significant lower serum cholesterol and leptin levels compared with controls
and the difference is obvious in suicide attempters compared with
non-suicide attempters and in violent attempters than non-violent
attempters.
PMID: 12890276 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstra
ct&list_uids=12880147

Clin Chem Lab Med. 2003 Jun;41(6):821-4.

Association between increased serum cholesterol and signs of depressive
mood.
Ledochowski M, Murr C, Sperner-Unterweger B, Neurauter G, Fuchs D.
Department of Internal Medicine, Leopold-Franzens University, Innsbruck,
Austria.
Hypercholesterolemia is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis
and coronary heart disease. Therefore, therapeutic lowering of cholesterol
is an important preventive measure of cardiac morbidity and death. As one
side effect, cholesterol-lowering drugs appear to increase the mortality due
to suicides or violence, and low lipid concentrations were found to be
associated with trait measures of depression. We compared serum cholesterol
concentrations and the Beck Depression Rating Scale (Beck's score) in 604
otherwise healthy outpatients who visited the physician's office for a
medical health check-up; 65.4% of individuals presented with serum
cholesterol concentrations > or = 5.2 mmol/l (> 200 mg/dl) and 5.3% had
elevated Beck's score (> 19), indicative for depression. Beck's score was
higher in patients with cholesterol concentrations above the 75th percentile
(= 6.2 mmol/l; U = 31221, p < 0.02, Mann-Whitney U-test), and Beck's score
correlated with cholesterol concentrations and with age. Thus, in contrast
to the widely accepted view, in our study, higher cholesterol concentrations
were associated with signs of depressive mood. Hypercholesterolemia may not
necessarily increase the risk of depressive mood, conversely, increased
intake of fat and carbohydrates by individuals with depressive mood may
increase cholesterol levels.
PMID: 12880147 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

(SH: So, perhaps eating chocolate or other fats and carbohydrates is a
natural way to recover from depression?)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstra
ct&list_uids=12648892

Eur Psychiatry. 2003 Feb;18(1):23-7.

Cholesterol concentrations in violent and non-violent women suicide
attempters.
Vevera J, Zukov I, Morcinek T, Papezova H.
Psychiatric Clinic, 1st Medical Faculty, Charles University of Prague,
Prague, Czech Republic. j_vevera@hotmail.com
The aim of this study was to evaluate whether women with a history of
violent suicide attempts have lower serum cholesterol concentrations than
those who attempted suicide by non-violent methods. Our retrospective study
used a case-control design to compare serum total cholesterol concentration,
hematocrit, red blood cell count and body mass index (BMI) in women with a
history of violent (n = 19) or non-violent (n = 51) suicide attempts and of
non-suicidal controls (n = 70) matched by diagnosis and age. Analysis of
covariance (ANCOVA) with age as the covariate was used to analyze
differences in cholesterol levels in groups according to violence. Violence
was found to be a significant factor (P = 0.016). Using the Scheffe test, a
significant difference (P = 0.011) was revealed between the group of violent
and non-violent suicide attempters and between the violent suicide
attempters and the control group. Patients with a violent suicidal attempt
have significantly lower cholesterol levels than patients with non-violent
attempts and the control subjects. Our findings suggest that suicide
attempts should not be considered a homogeneous group. They are consistent
with the theory that low levels of cholesterol are associated with increased
tendency for impulsive behavior and aggression and contribute to a more
violent pattern of suicidal behavior.
PMID: 12648892 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstra
ct&list_uids=12056583

Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2002 Feb;252(1):8-11.

Total serum cholesterol level, violent criminal offences, suicidal behavior,
mortality and the appearance of conduct disorder in Finnish male criminal
offenders with antisocial personality disorder.
Repo-Tiihonen E, Halonen P, Tiihonen J, Virkkunen M.
Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Kuopio, Niuvanniemi
Hospital, Finland. eila.tiihonen@niuva.fi
Associations between low total serum cholesterol (TC) levels and antisocial
personality disorder (ASPD), violent and suicidal behavior have been found.
We investigated the associations between TC levels, violent and suicidal
behavior, age of onset of the conduct disorder (CD) and the age of death
among 250 Finnish male criminal offenders with ASPD. The CD had begun before
the age of 10 two times more often in non-violent criminal offenders who had
lower than median TC levels. The violent criminal offenders having lower
than median TC levels were seven times more likely to die before the median
age of death in the study material. The violent offenders having lower than
median TC levels were eight times more likely to die of unnatural causes.
The mean TC level of these male offenders with ASPD was lower than that of
the general Finnish male population. Low TC levels are associated with
childhood onset type of the CD, and premature and unnatural mortality among
male offenders with ASPD. The TC level seems to be a peripheral marker with
prognostic value among boys with conduct disorder and antisocial male
offenders.
PMID: 12056583 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstra
ct&list_uids=12056581

Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2002 Feb;252(1):38-43.

Biogenic amine turnover and serum cholesterol in suicide attempt.
Tripodianakis J, Markianos M, Sarantidis D, Agouridaki M.
Evangelismos General Hospital, Psychiatric Department, Athens, Greece.
tripodianakis@hotmail.com
The investigation of biological correlates of suicidal behavior is important
in searching for possible changes in neuronal systems activity related to
that behavior, so that pharmacological interventions may be proposed,
especially in high-risk subjects. In a sample of 111 subjects admitted in a
general hospital after suicide attempt, we studied the turnover of
neurotransmitters by measuring the urinary output of the main metabolites of
serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline (5-HIAA, HVA, MHPG respectively), as
well as serum cholesterol, and compared them to those of a group of 62
healthy controls. Venous blood samples and urine samples were collected
within 24 hours of admission. Psychiatric diagnosis was made according to
DSM-IIIR criteria and assessment of suicide intent with Beck's Suicidal
Intent Scale (SIS). Fifty-four (54) subjects received the diagnosis of
adjustment disorder, 25 of depression, 16 of schizophrenia and 16 of
personality disorder. Fourteen subjects (14) had employed a violent mode of
attempt. Urinary MHPG was found significantly higher in all diagnostic
groups compared to controls. No difference was found concerning the
excretion of HVA and 5-HIAA. Serum total cholesterol was found significantly
lower both in violent and non-violent attempters compared to controls after
correcting for age. No difference in serum cholesterol or MHPG was found
between violent and non-violent attempts. Serum cholesterol and MHPG
correlated negatively, while the correlations between cholesterol and 5-HIAA
or HVA were not significant. Our results confirm previous reports of lower
serum cholesterol in attempted suicide. They are also indicative of an
increased noradrenaline turnover in subjects who attempt suicide, at least
within 24 hours after the attempt. Whether this activation precedes or
follows the attempt because of the specific stress, can not be answered at
present.
PMID: 12056581 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstra
ct&list_uids=11952924

Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2002 Apr;56(2):195-8.

Sleep-related violence and low serum cholesterol: a preliminary study.
Agargun MY, Sekeroglu MR, Kara H, Ozer OA, Tombul T, Kiran U, Selvi Y.
Department of Psychiatry, Yuzuncu Yil University School of Medicine, Van,
Turkey. mehmetyucel@turk.net
To examine whether there is a relationship between serum cholesterol level
and sleep-related violence, we evaluated 15 patients with violent behavior
during sleep (VBS) and 15 normal control subjects. The patient and control
groups were matched for sex, age, and weight. There were 13 women and two
men in each group. The patients with VBS had lower serum total cholesterol,
triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein levels than the healthy subjects.
Low cholesterol may effect serotonergic neuronal activity and some types of
5-HT receptors, then may be related to violent behavior during sleep.
PMID: 11952924 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstra
ct&list_uids=11199085

J Behav Med. 2000 Dec;23(6):519-29.

Serum cholesterol concentrations and mood states in violent psychiatric
patients: an experience sampling study.
Hillbrand M, Waite BM, Miller DS, Spitz RT, Lingswiler VM.
Connecticut Valley Hospital, Whiting Forensic Division, P.O. Box 70,
Middletown, Connecticut 06457, USA. hillbrandm@ccsu.edu
The well-documented negative association between serum cholesterol and
aggressive behavior has led Kaplan to propose a cholesterol-serotonin
hypothesis of aggression. According to this hypothesis, low dietary
cholesterol intake leads to depressed central serotonergic activity, which
itself has been reported in numerous studies of violent individuals. In the
present study, 25 violent psychiatric patients participated in a
microbehavioral experience sampling procedure to examine differences in
self-reports of affective and cognitive experiences as a function of serum
cholesterol concentrations. For 7 days, they wore signaling devices that
emitted an average of seven signals a day. Following each signal, patients
filled out a mood questionnaire. Total serum cholesterol (TSC) concentration
was positively associated with measures of affect, cognitive efficiency,
activation, and sociability, suggesting a link between low TSC and
dysphoria. These findings are consistent with the cholesterol-serotonin
hypothesis and with the substantive literature linking both aggression and
depression to depressed central serotonergic activity.
PMID: 11199085 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstra
ct&list_uids=11104842

J Psychiatr Res. 2000 Jul-Oct;34(4-5):301-9.

Low cholesterol and violent crime.
Golomb BA, Stattin H, Mednick S.
Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
92093-0995, USA. bgolomb@ucsd.edu
BACKGROUND: Community cohort studies and meta-analyses of randomized trials
have shown a relation between low or lowered cholesterol and death by
violence (homicide, suicide, accident); in primates, cholesterol reduction
has been linked to increased behavioral acts of aggression (Kaplan J, Manuck
S. The effects of fat and cholesterol on aggressive behaviour in monkeys.
Psychosom. Med 1990;52:226-7; Kaplan J, Shively C, Fontenot D, Morgan T,
Howell S, Manuck S et al. Demonstration of an association among dietary
cholesterol, central serotonergic activity, and social behaviour in monkeys.
Psychosom. Med 1994;56:479-84.). In this study we test for the first time
whether cholesterol level is related to commission of violent crimes against
others in a large community cohort. METHODS: We merged one-time cholesterol
measurements on 79,777 subjects enrolled in a health screening project in
Varmland, Sweden with subsequent police records for arrests for violent
crimes in men and women aged 24-70 at enrollment; and with information on
covariates. We performed a nested case control comparison of cholesterol in
violent criminals - defined as those with two or more crimes of violence
against others - to cholesterol in nonoffenders matched on age, enrollment
year, sex, education and alcohol, using variable-ratio matching, with a
nonparametric sign test. RESULTS: One hundred individuals met criteria for
criminal violence. Low cholesterol (below the median) was strongly
associated with criminal violence in unadjusted analysis (Men: risk ratio
1.94, P=0.002; all subjects risk ratio 2.32, P<0.001). Age emerged as a
strong confounder. Adjusting for covariates using a matching procedure,
violent criminals had significantly lower cholesterol than others identical
in age, sex, alcohol indices and education, using a nonparametric sign test
(P=0.012 all subjects; P=0.035 men). CONCLUSIONS: Adjusting for other
factors, low cholesterol is associated with increased subsequent criminal
violence.
PMID: 11104842 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstra
ct&list_uids=11063789

Psychiatry Res. 2000 Oct 30;96(2):167-73.

Relationship between serum cholesterol levels and
meta-chlorophenylpiperazine-induced cortisol responses in healthy men and
women.
Terao T, Nakamura J, Yoshimura R, Ohmori O, Takahashi N, Kojima H, Soeda S,
Shinkai T, Nakano H, Okuno T.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Occupational and Environmental
Health, School of Medicine, Yahatanishi-ku, 807-8555, Kitakyushu, Japan.
t-terao@med.uoeh-u.ac.jp
We investigated the effect of cholesterol on serotonergic receptor function
in 20 healthy male and 10 healthy female subjects using cortisol responses
to meta-chlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP) neuroendocrine challenge tests.
M-CPP, a metabolite of the antidepressant trazodone, has been widely used in
psychopharmacology research as a probe of serotonin function. In the human
brain, m-CPP binds both to various serotonergic receptors, mainly 5-HT(2C),
and to alpha(2)-adrenoceptors. After an overnight fast, the subjects
received m-CPP (0.5 mg/kg) or identical placebo capsules orally in a
randomized, double blind, crossover design. Blood was obtained for
measurement of cholesterol and cortisol. In some analyses, especially in
males, there were significant positive correlations between serum
cholesterol levels and cortisol responses. These findings suggest the
possibility that serum cholesterol levels may be positively associated with
serotonergic receptor function. The existence of such an association may
provide an explanation for reported increases in depression, suicide and
violence in individuals with low or lowered cholesterol.
Publication Types:

·         Clinical Trial

·         Randomized Controlled Trial

PMID: 11063789 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstra
ct&list_uids=10963796

Psychiatry Res. 2000 Aug 21;95(2):103-8.

Low serum cholesterol in violent but not in non-violent suicide attempters.
Alvarez JC, Cremniter D, Gluck N, Quintin P, Leboyer M, Berlin I, Therond P,
Spreux-Varoquaux O.
Faculte de Medecine Paris-Ouest et Laboratoire de Biochimie, Hopital R.
Poincare, AP-HP, 104 Bvd R. Poincare, 92380 Garches, France.
jean-claude.alvarez@rcp.ap-hop-paris.fr
Many previous studies have suggested that low or lowered serum cholesterol
levels may increase the risk of mortality not due to somatic disease:
principally, suicide and violent death. Because violent death is rare, some
studies have investigated afterwards the relation between cholesterol levels
and either suicide attempts in psychiatric populations or violence in
criminally violent populations. However, none of these studies have compared
cholesterol levels in violent and non-violent suicide attempters. The blood
of 25 consecutive drug-free patients following a violent suicide attempt and
of 27 patients following a non-violent suicide attempt by drug overdose was
drawn in the 24 h following admission. Patients with a diagnosis of alcohol
abuse and with cholesterol-lowering therapy were excluded. Age, sex, body
mass index, psychiatric diagnosis and the physical conditions of the suicide
attempt were investigated. Thirty-two healthy subjects were used as a
control group. There were no differences between the groups in age,
frequency of psychiatric diagnoses or body mass index. There was more women
in the group of non-violent suicide attempters than in that of violent
suicide attempters (P<0.001). In analyses controlling for sex and age, the
serum cholesterol concentration was 30% lower (F(2,82)=15.8; P<0.0001) in
the group of violent suicide attempters (147+/-54 mg/dl) than in the group
of non-violent suicide attempters (209+/-38 mg/dl) or control subjects
(213+/-46 mg/dl). Our results showed that low serum cholesterol level is
associated with the violence of the suicide attempt and not with the suicide
attempt itself. Further investigations are necessary to determine the
usefulness of this easily accessible parameter as a potential risk indicator
for violent acts such as violent suicidal behavior in susceptible
individuals.
PMID: 10963796 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstra
ct&list_uids=10772398

Psychosom Med. 2000 Mar-Apr;62(2):205-11.

Higher prevalence of depressive symptoms in middle-aged men with low serum
cholesterol levels.
Steegmans PH, Hoes AW, Bak AA, van der Does E, Grobbee DE.
Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus University Medical School, Rotterdam,
The Netherlands.
OBJECTIVE: Investigators from several studies have reported a positive
relationship between low cholesterol levels and death due to violent causes
(eg, suicide and accidents), possibly mediated by depressive symptoms,
aggression or hostility, or impulsivity. We set out to establish whether
middle-aged men with chronically low cholesterol levels (< or =4.5
mmol/liter) have a higher risk of having depressive symptoms, according to
scores on the Beck Depression Inventory, compared with a reference group of
men with cholesterol levels between 6 and 7 mmol/liter. A similar comparison
was also made for measures of anger, hostility, and impulsivity. METHODS:
Cholesterol measurements were obtained as part of a population-based
cholesterol screening study in 1990-1991. These levels were remeasured in
1993-1994. Only those whose cholesterol level remained in the same range
were included in the study. Depressive symptoms were assessed by using the
Beck Depression Inventory; anger, by questionnaires based on the Spielberger
Anger Expression Scale and State-Trait Anger Scale; hostility, by the
Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory; and impulsivity, by the Eysenck and Eysenck
Impulsivity Questionnaire. RESULTS: Men with chronically low cholesterol
levels showed a consistently higher risk of having depressive symptoms (Beck
Depression Inventory score > or =15 or > or =17) than the reference group,
even after adjusting for age, energy intake, alcohol use, and presence of
chronic diseases. No differences in anger, hostility, and impulsivity were
observed between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Men with a lower cholesterol
level (< or =4.5 mmol/liter) have a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms
than those with a cholesterol level between 6 and 7 mmol/liter. These data
may be important in the ongoing debate on the putative association between
low cholesterol levels and violent death.
PMID: 10772398 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

==========================================================

The foregoing abstracts are of the more recent studies, but there are many
more.  A search of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) PubMed, using the
search terms "cholesterol" + "violence" yields the following list, the
overwhelming majority of which studies indicate a positive correlation
between low cholesterol and violence or similar behaviors:

1:  Vevera J, Fisar Z, Kvasnicka T, Zdenek H, Starkova L, Ceska R, Papezova
H.  Cholesterol-lowering therapy evokes time-limited changes in
serotonergictransmission.Psychiatry Res. 2005 Feb 28;133(2-3):197-203. PMID:
15740995 [PubMed - in process] 2:  Liu J, Wuerker A.  Biosocial bases of
aggressive and violent behavior--implications for nursingstudies.Int J Nurs
Stud. 2005 Feb;42(2):229-41. PMID: 15680620 [PubMed - in process] 3:  Kim
YK, Myint AM.  Clinical application of low serum cholesterol as an indicator
for suicide riskin major depression.J Affect Disord. 2004 Aug;81(2):161-6.
PMID: 15306143 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 4:  Atmaca M, Kuloglu M,
Tezcan E, Ustundag B.  Serum leptin and cholesterol levels in schizophrenic
patients with and withoutsuicide attempts.Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2003
Sep;108(3):208-14. PMID: 12890276 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 5:
Ledochowski M, Murr C, Sperner-Unterweger B, Neurauter G, Fuchs D.
Association between increased serum cholesterol and signs of depressive
mood.Clin Chem Lab Med. 2003 Jun;41(6):821-4. PMID: 12880147 [PubMed -
indexed for MEDLINE] 6:  Vevera J, Zukov I, Morcinek T, Papezova H.
Cholesterol concentrations in violent and non-violent women suicide
attempters.Eur Psychiatry. 2003 Feb;18(1):23-7. PMID: 12648892 [PubMed -
indexed for MEDLINE] 7:  Golaszewski T, Barr D, Pronk N.  Development of
assessment tools to measure organizational support for employeehealth.Am J
Health Behav. 2003 Jan-Feb;27(1):43-54. PMID: 12500951 [PubMed - indexed for
MEDLINE] 8:  Tochigi M, Umekage T, Otani T, Kato T, Iwanami A, Asukai N,
Sasaki T, KatoN.  Serum cholesterol, uric acid and cholinesterase in victims
of the Tokyo subwaysarin poisoning: a relation with post-traumatic stress
disorder.Neurosci Res. 2002 Nov;44(3):267-72. PMID: 12413655 [PubMed -
indexed for MEDLINE] 9:  Cantor CH.  An ecological perspective of
cholesterol.Med J Aust. 2002 Jun 3;176(11):564. No abstract available. PMID:
12064996 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 10:  Repo-Tiihonen E, Halonen P,
Tiihonen J, Virkkunen M.  Total serum cholesterol level, violent criminal
offences, suicidal behavior,mortality and the appearance of conduct disorder
in Finnish male criminaloffenders with antisocial personality disorder.Eur
Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2002 Feb;252(1):8-11. PMID: 12056583
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 11:  Tripodianakis J, Markianos M, Sarantidis
D, Agouridaki M.  Biogenic amine turnover and serum cholesterol in suicide
attempt.Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2002 Feb;252(1):38-43. PMID:
12056581 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 12:  Agargun MY, Sekeroglu MR, Kara
H, Ozer OA, Tombul T, Kiran U, Selvi Y.  Sleep-related violence and low
serum cholesterol: a preliminary study.Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2002
Apr;56(2):195-8. PMID: 11952924 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 13:  Menotti
A, Blackburn H, Kromhout D, Nissinen A, Adachi H, Lanti M.  Cardiovascular
risk factors as determinants of 25-year all-cause mortality inthe seven
countries study.Eur J Epidemiol. 2001;17(4):337-46. PMID: 11767959 [PubMed -
indexed for MEDLINE] 14:  Huang TL.  Serum cholesterol levels in mood
disorders associated with physical violence orsuicide attempts in
Taiwanese.Chang Gung Med J. 2001 Sep;24(9):563-8. PMID: 11725626 [PubMed -
indexed for MEDLINE] 15:  Terao T, Whale R.  High serum cholesterol and
suicide risk.Am J Psychiatry. 2001 May;158(5):824-5. No abstract available.
PMID: 11329428 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 16:  Davidson MH.  Safety
profiles for the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors: treatment and trust.Drugs.
2001;61(2):197-206. Review. PMID: 11270938 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
17:  Hillbrand M, Waite BM, Miller DS, Spitz RT, Lingswiler VM.  Serum
cholesterol concentrations and mood states in violent psychiatricpatients:
an experience sampling study.J Behav Med. 2000 Dec;23(6):519-29. PMID:
11199085 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 18:  Manfredini R, Caracciolo S,
Salmi R, Boari B, Tomelli A, Gallerani M.  The association of low serum
cholesterol with depression and suicidalbehaviours: new hypotheses for the
missing link.J Int Med Res. 2000 Nov-Dec;28(6):247-57. Review. PMID:
11191718 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 19:  McAllister M.  Domestic
violence: a life-span approach to assessment and intervention.Lippincotts
Prim Care Pract. 2000 Mar-Apr;4(2):174-89; quiz 190-2. PMID: 11143628
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 20:  Muldoon MF, Manuck SB, Mendelsohn AB,
Kaplan JR, Belle SH.  Cholesterol reduction and non-illness mortality:
meta-analysis of randomisedclinical trials.BMJ. 2001 Jan 6;322(7277):11-5.
PMID: 11141142 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 21:  Golomb BA, Stattin H,
Mednick S.  Low cholesterol and violent crime.J Psychiatr Res. 2000
Jul-Oct;34(4-5):301-9. PMID: 11104842 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 22:
Stewart RA, Sharples KJ, North FM, Menkes DB, Baker J, Simes J.  Long-term
assessment of psychological well-being in a randomizedplacebo-controlled
trial of cholesterol reduction with pravastatin. The LIPIDStudy
Investigators.Arch Intern Med. 2000 Nov 13;160(20):3144-52. PMID: 11074745
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 23:  Huang T, Wu S.  Serum cholesterol levels
in paranoid and non-paranoid schizophrenia associatedwith physical violence
or suicide attempts in Taiwanese.Psychiatry Res. 2000 Oct 30;96(2):175-8.
PMID: 11063790 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 24:  Terao T, Nakamura J,
Yoshimura R, Ohmori O, Takahashi N, Kojima H, Soeda S,Shinkai T, Nakano H,
Okuno T.  Relationship between serum cholesterol levels
andmeta-chlorophenylpiperazine-induced cortisol responses in healthy men and
women.Psychiatry Res. 2000 Oct 30;96(2):167-73. PMID: 11063789 [PubMed -
indexed for MEDLINE] 25:  Alvarez JC, Cremniter D, Gluck N, Quintin P,
Leboyer M, Berlin I, TherondP, Spreux-Varoquaux O.  Low serum cholesterol in
violent but not in non-violent suicide attempters.Psychiatry Res. 2000 Aug
21;95(2):103-8. PMID: 10963796 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 26:  Steegmans
PH, Hoes AW, Bak AA, van der Does E, Grobbee DE.  Higher prevalence of
depressive symptoms in middle-aged men with low serumcholesterol
levels.Psychosom Med. 2000 Mar-Apr;62(2):205-11. PMID: 10772398 [PubMed -
indexed for MEDLINE] 27:  Tanskanen A, Vartiainen E, Tuomilehto J, Viinamaki
H, Lehtonen J, Puska P.  High serum cholesterol and risk of suicide.Am J
Psychiatry. 2000 Apr;157(4):648-50. PMID: 10739432 [PubMed - indexed for
MEDLINE] 28:  Seneviratne SL, Warnasooriya WM, Gunatilake SB, Fonseka MM,
Gunawardena MK,de Silva HJ.  Serum cholesterol concentrations in
parasuicide.Ceylon Med J. 1999 Mar;44(1):11-3. PMID: 10643091 [PubMed -
indexed for MEDLINE] 29:  Hibbeln JR, Umhau JC, George DT, Shoaf SE,
Linnoila M, Salem N Jr.  Plasma total cholesterol concentrations do not
predict cerebrospinal fluidneurotransmitter metabolites: implications for
the biophysical role of highlyunsaturated fatty acids.Am J Clin Nutr. 2000
Jan;71(1 Suppl):331S-8S. PMID: 10617992 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 30:
Steinert T, Woelfle M, Gebhardt RP.  No correlation of serum cholesterol
levels with measures of violence inpatients with schizophrenia and
non-psychotic disorders.Eur Psychiatry. 1999 Oct;14(6):346-8. PMID: 10572367
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 31:  Apter A, Laufer N, Bar-Sever M, Har-Even
D, Ofek H, Weizman A.  Serum cholesterol, suicidal tendencies, impulsivity,
aggression, and depressionin adolescent psychiatric inpatients.Biol
Psychiatry. 1999 Aug 15;46(4):532-41. PMID: 10459404 [PubMed - indexed for
MEDLINE] 32:  Ilveskoski E, Perola M, Lehtimaki T, Laippala P, Savolainen V,
Pajarinen J,Penttila A, Lalu KH, Mannikko A, Liesto KK, Koivula T, Karhunen
PJ.  Age-dependent association of apolipoprotein E genotype with coronary
and aorticatherosclerosis in middle-aged men: an autopsy study.Circulation.
1999 Aug 10;100(6):608-13. PMID: 10441097 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 33:
Alvarez JC, Cremniter D, Lesieur P, Gregoire A, Gilton A, Macquin-Mavier
I,Jarreau C, Spreux-Varoquaux O.  Low blood cholesterol and low platelet
serotonin levels in violent suicideattempters.Biol Psychiatry. 1999 Apr
15;45(8):1066-9. PMID: 10386194 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 34:  New AS,
Sevin EM, Mitropoulou V, Reynolds D, Novotny SL, Callahan A,Trestman RL,
Siever LJ.  Serum cholesterol and impulsivity in personality
disorders.Psychiatry Res. 1999 Feb 22;85(2):145-50. PMID: 10220005 [PubMed -
indexed for MEDLINE] 35:  Klein JD, Graff CA, Santelli JS, Hedberg VA, Allan
MJ, Elster AB.  Developing quality measures for adolescent care: validity of
adolescents'self-reported receipt of preventive services.Health Serv Res.
1999 Apr;34(1 Pt 2):391-404. PMID: 10199683 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
36:  Puska P, Vartiainen E, Tuomilehto J, Salomaa V, Nissinen A.  Changes in
premature deaths in Finland: successful long-term prevention
ofcardiovascular diseases.Bull World Health Organ. 1998;76(4):419-25. PMID:
9803593 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 37:  Weinberger RF.  Cholesterol and
violence: is there a connection?Ann Intern Med. 1998 Oct 15;129(8):669-70.
No abstract available. PMID: 9786821 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 38:
Faustman WO, Ringo DL, Lindley SE.  Cholesterol and violence: is there a
connection?Ann Intern Med. 1998 Oct 15;129(8):669; author reply 669-70. No
abstractavailable. PMID: 9786820 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 39:
Goldstein MR.  Cholesterol and violence: is there a connection?Ann Intern
Med. 1998 Oct 15;129(8):668-9; author reply 669-70. No abstractavailable.
PMID: 9786819 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 40:  Nash SD.  Cholesterol and
violence: is there a connection?Ann Intern Med. 1998 Oct 15;129(8):668;
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for MEDLINE] 41:  Schlienger JL, Goichot B, Pradignac A.  [Cholesterolemia
and pathology: update]Rev Med Interne. 1998 Mar;19(3):180-4. Review.
French. PMID: 9775138 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 42:  Hibbeln JR, Umhau
JC, Linnoila M, George DT, Ragan PW, Shoaf SE, VaughanMR, Rawlings R, Salem
N Jr.  A replication study of violent and nonviolent subjects: cerebrospinal
fluidmetabolites of serotonin and dopamine are predicted by plasma essential
fattyacids.Biol Psychiatry. 1998 Aug 15;44(4):243-9. PMID: 9715355 [PubMed -
indexed for MEDLINE] 43:  Hibbeln JR, Linnoila M, Umhau JC, Rawlings R,
George DT, Salem N Jr.  Essential fatty acids predict metabolites of
serotonin and dopamine incerebrospinal fluid among healthy control subjects,
and early- and late-onsetalcoholics.Biol Psychiatry. 1998 Aug
15;44(4):235-42. PMID: 9715354 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 44:  Kaplan
JR, Muldoon MF, Manuck SB, Mann JJ.  Assessing the observed relationship
between low cholesterol andviolence-related mortality. Implications for
suicide risk.Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1997 Dec 29;836:57-80. Review. PMID: 9616794
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cholesterol and violence.Psychiatr Serv. 1998 Feb;49(2):221-4. PMID: 9575009
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there a connection?Ann Intern Med. 1998 Mar 15;128(6):478-87. Review. PMID:
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Review. PMID: 8968624 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 48:  Virkkunen M,
Eggert M, Rawlings R, Linnoila M.  A prospective follow-up study of
alcoholic violent offenders and fire setters.Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1996
Jun;53(6):523-9. PMID: 8639035 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 49:  Golomb B.
Low cholesterol and violence.Arch Intern Med. 1995 Dec 11-25;155(22):2485.
No abstract available. PMID: 7503611 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 50:
Strandberg TE, Salomaa VV, Vanhanen HT, Naukkarinen VA, Sarna SJ,
MiettinenTA.  Mortality in participants and non-participants of a
multifactorial preventionstudy of cardiovascular diseases: a 28 year follow
up of the HelsinkiBusinessmen Study.Br Heart J. 1995 Oct;74(4):449-54. PMID:
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concentrations in parasuicide. No association between lowcholesterol and
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Caracciolo S, Scapoli C, Molinari S, Fersini C.  Serum cholesterol
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7795448 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 53:  Schwandt P, Richter WO,
Sonnichsen AC.  Lowering high plasma cholesterol levels is not
dangerous.Arch Intern Med. 1995 May 8;155(9):985. No abstract available.
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low serum cholesterol, suicide, and interleukin-2.Am J Epidemiol. 1995 Apr
15;141(8):716-8. PMID: 7709913 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 55:  Friedman
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Mar 13;155(5):543-4. No abstract available. PMID: 7864712 [PubMed - indexed
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Jacobs DR, SeccarecciaF.  The seven countries study in Japan.
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Hillbrand M, Spitz RT, Foster HG.  Serum cholesterol and aggression in
hospitalized male forensic patients.J Behav Med. 1995 Feb;18(1):33-43. PMID:
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Manninen V, Albanes D, ComstockGW.  HDL cholesterol and mortality in Finnish
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PF, Dursun SM, Reveley MA.  Cholesterol and violent death. Other studies
exist.BMJ. 1994 Nov 5;309(6963):1228. No abstract available. PMID: 7987161
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death. Diets, violence, and civilization.BMJ. 1994 Nov 5;309(6963):1228. No
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Howell SM, Manuck SB,Muldoon MF, Mann JJ.  Demonstration of an association
among dietary cholesterol, central serotonergicactivity, and social behavior
in monkeys.Psychosom Med. 1994 Nov-Dec;56(6):479-84. PMID: 7532867 [PubMed -
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1994 Jun 27;154(12):1317-21. Review. Erratum in: Arch InternMed 1994 Sep
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Cholesterol and violence: more questions than answers.Br J Hosp Med. 1994
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FH.  Low serum cholesterol and death due to accidents, violence, or
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EG, Kok FJ.  Low serum cholesterol and death due to accidents, violence, or
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Keys A, Bloemberg B.  Serum cholesterol and long-term death rates from
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sensationalism.N Z Med J. 1992 Jul 22;105(938):283-4. No abstract available.
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disease.JAMA. 1992 Apr 22-29;267(16):2184; author reply 2185-6. No abstract
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Gualandri V, Franceschini G, Sirtori CR, Gianfranceschi G, Orsini GB,Cerrone
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On re-reading this, I have to point out that blockage of blood to the brain
can also cause dementia and memory loss.

Karen